Are you often quick to give advice? You're not alone, but sometimes our advice may not be as helpful as we think. In this podcast episode, we explore the concepts of the advice trap and humble inquiry, which shift communication from telling to asking and encourage us to stay curious a little longer.

Guest Bio: The late Edgar Schein, PhD. was a renowned figure in the field of organizational psychology, with significant contributions to the understanding of organizational culture and leadership. As a Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, his academic work spanned several decades, educating countless leaders and thinkers. Holding a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University, Dr. Schein was widely recognized for his groundbreaking theories on corporate culture and process consultation. His seminal works, including “Humble Inquiry”, "Organizational Culture and Leadership" and "The Corporate Culture Survival Guide", continue to be pillars of study in the field. Dr. Schein’s dedication and influence earned him prestigious accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Workplace Learning and Performance from the American Society for Training and Development. His insights continue to shape modern approaches to organizational development and leadership.

The Advice Trap Link

Humble Inquiry Link

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For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast website

We Discuss:

We love to solve problems, and that can be a problem
The Advice Trap
Why even good advice can be bad
The paradoxical pitfall of how we see our value
The demotivator
Where this comes up in coaching
You are in the coffee shop with your best friend
Hearing yourself think
Humble inquiry
It’s not just to fill the awkward silence
Asking questions is not straightforward
Critical skills for implementing humble inquiry
Take-home challenge: The next time you engage in a conversation, particularly in a setting where you’re accustomed to ‘telling’, try implementing the principles of Humble Inquiry and notice if there is an advice trap. See how just noticing, not even doing, influences the dynamics of the conversation and the outcomes that unfold.

104. Trapped in a World of Bad Advice | The tightrope between asking and telling with Edgar Schein, PhD

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