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Humble Inquiry

The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling

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Humble Inquiry

By: Edgar H. Schein
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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Summary

The key to effective communication. Communication is essential in a healthy organization. But all too often when we interact with people - especially those who report to us - we simply tell them what we think they need to know. This shuts them down. To generate bold new ideas, to avoid disastrous mistakes, to develop agility and flexibility, we need to practice Humble Inquiry. Ed Schein defines Humble Inquiry as "the fine art of drawing someone out, of asking questions to which you do not know the answer, of building a relationship based on curiosity and interest in the other person." In this seminal work, Schein contrasts Humble Inquiry with other kinds of inquiry, shows the benefits Humble Inquiry provides in many different settings, and offers advice on overcoming the cultural, organizational, and psychological barriers that keep us from practicing it.

©2013 Edgar H Schein (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC Business Communication Career Success Communication & Social Skills Organisational Behavior Personal Development Words, Language & Grammar Workplace & Organisational Behavior Career Business
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Critic reviews

“I have had the privilege of working with Ed Schein. Reading Humble Inquiry I could hear his voice asking me those humble questions that joined us in a mutual search for the answer. His book distills what he has learned and practiced in a lifetime of helping high-powered leaders be even more successful.”—Anthony F. Earley, Jr., Chairman, CEO and President, PG&E Corporation
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But I feel I've asked far too many badly worded questions this week. Theory is good but in practice I sound like I'm on neighbours, lilting every sentence up at the end to form a flaming question, meh I'm too easily influenced

Yes okay it's good

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I would recommend to everyone who must lead a team, coach, teach or interact with others at work and home.

I have already updated an email and some conversations based on this book. Instead of saying, “We should do this?”, I asked, “Is this something that would make the way we work together easier?” and “Is this something we could develop together?”

Sometimes, it seemed unnecessarily long. But given the helpfulness of the premise of the book. It is easily forgiven.

Ask, don’t tell. Listen without status

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This book has made me look at myself and the way I communicate with others. It has answered many questions relating to the success or failure of my personal and professional relationships. I feel helped and improved. Fully recommended!

Eye openning, soul searching and practical

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this book is a brief refresher about the need to listen more than you speak if you want to learn anything.

interesting and perhaps even enlightening for anyone who does not read or listen to books about psychology, sociology and social sciences. However if you have a reasonable understanding of these fields this books a very simple reminder with some interesting examples.

listen more than you speak: nothing new

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I tried to finish this book but the reading person is somehow annoying talking foe so long about the same thing. Waste of time in my opinion.

Complicating simple things in boring way

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