How can coaching questions benefit your brand? I wouldn’t have thought of this either until I heard a recent interview on the Dare to Lead podcast between Brene Brown and Michael Bungay Stanier. As I was listening to him share the seven essential coaching questions, I realized these are very similar to what I ask of clients when helping them define their brand.
Curiosity is a superpower
At the beginning of their conversation, they talked about the power of curiosity. Stanier talked about how his agency – Box of Crayons – is focused on helping organizations move from being advice-driven to curiosity-driven. What is curiosity-driven? First, he believes curiosity is a superpower. And an emphasis on curiosity drives business success by figuring out what you really need to focus on – and increases humanity in the organization. Curiosity brings out the best in people and allows you to see them as human beings – as they truly are.
Giving advice is risky
Stanier offered three reasons: 1. You may be offering advice on the wrong problem, 2. Your advice might not be good. And 3. Are you considering the impact on the other person?
He counters with this: when we are asked for advice, we should be helping the other person figure out what the real problem is – and that is empowering to them. When we offer advice, it is essentially putting ourselves in a position of authority or elevated position over the other person.
If our advice is offered through the lens of empowerment, the other person increases their competence, their confidence, their self-sufficiency, and their autonomy.
Seven questions for effective coaching
- The kickstart question: What’s on your mind?
- The AWE question: And what else?
- The focus question: What’s the real challenge here for you? (and adding for you at the end is important.
- The foundation question: What do you want?
- The lazy question: How can I help? Or What do you want from me?
- The strategic question: If you say yes to this, what are you saying no to?
- The learning question: What was most useful or most valuable for you?
When you put yourself in the position of answering these questions about your brand, you’ll find some insights you may not have considered previously. In the podcast, I share more detail on how I use each of these questions (or a variation) to identify key pieces of the brand equation.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Dare to Lead podcast with Michael Bungay Stanier
- The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious, & Change the Way You Lead Forever, Michael Bungay Stanier
- The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, & Change the Way You Lead Forever, Michael Bungay Stanier
- The Pursuit of Purpose archive
If you found yourself shaking your head and saying, “I really need to focus on my brand strategy” or have been disappointed by the results of a video, brochure, or social media campaign, let’s talk strategy. Schedule a discovery call with me today. Together we’ll find the clarity, consistency, and confidence necessary for your brand to grow and thrive.
