For generations the discoveries of science tended to challenge the very existence of God. Templeton makes a striking argument for just the opposite point of view. He goes to the writings of many of the world's leading scientific thinkers—as diverse in background as Albert Einstein and Teilhard de Chardin—and discovers them in awe of the universe, perceiving the hand of Divine mystery at work. The Humble Approach teaches that man can discover and comprehend only a few of the infinite aspects of God's nature, never enough to form a comprehensive theology. The humble approach may be a science still in its infancy, but it seeks to develop a way of knowing God appropriate to His greatness and our littleness.

For generations the discoveries of science tended to challenge the very existence of God. Sir John Templeton makes a striking argument for just the opposite point of view and goes to the writings of many of the world's leading scientific thinkers and discovers them in awe of the universe, perceiving the hand of Divine mystery at work.

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.

This worldwide bestseller offers simple guidance for building the kind of open and trusting relatonships vital for tackling global systemic challenges and developing adaptive, innovative organizations—over 200,000 copies sold and translated into seventeen languages! We live, say Edgar and Peter Schein, in a culture of “tell.” All too often we tell others what we think they need to know or should do. But whether we are leading or following, what matters most is we get to the truth. We have to develop a commitment to sharing vital facts and identifying faulty assumptions—it can mean the difference between success and failure. This is why we need Humble Inquiry more than ever. The Scheins define Humble Inquiry as “the gentle art of drawing someone out, of asking questions to which you do not know the answer, of building relationships based on curiosity and interest in the other person.” It was inspired by Edgar's twenty years of work in high-hazard industries and the health-care system, where honest communication can literally mean the difference between life and death. In this new edition the authors look at how Humble Inquiry differs from other kinds of inquiry, offer examples of it in action, and show how to overcome the barriers that keep us telling when we should be asking. This edition offers a deepening and broadening of this concept, seeing it as not just a way of posing questions but an entire attitude that includes better listening, better responding to what others are trying to tell us, and better revealing of ourselves. Packed with case examples and a full chapter of exercises and simulations, this is a major contribution to how we see human conversational dynamics and relationships, presented in a compact, personal, and eminently practical way.

Praise for The Completely Revised HANDBOOK OF COACHING “Pam McLean has written a jewel of a book. Its straightforward, easy-to-read style lays out an elegantly simple, effective, and agile coaching methodology. This will become a well-used (‘dog-eared,’ in the days before e-books) guidebook for both the new and the seasoned coach.” —MARY BETH O’NEILL, author, Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart “A welcome and comprehensive update of the original Handbook, this theoretically grounded, yet highly practical book presents important integrative coaching models that deal with complex coaching issues in an easy-to-read way. This book will be of use to novices and experienced coaches alike.” —ANTHONY M. GRANT Ph.D., coauthor, Evidence Based Coaching Handbook; faculty, University of Sydney “I love this book. Pam McLean offers the most comprehensive and clear explanation of use of self—why it is important and where we need to focus our attention—that I have ever read. In addition, she describes the robust Hudson coaching methodology clearly with lots of examples and always links theory to practice.” —RICK MAURER, author, Beyond the Wall of Resistance; faculty, Gestalt Institute of Cleveland “The new Handbook of Coaching is intellectually satisfying and pragmatically rich, a tour-de-force grounded in a thorough exploration of adult development and coaching models. This major rework of Hudson’s classic offers practitioners extensive guidance on coach methodology, the system dynamics of change, and the crucial use of self. Leadership coaches at any level will find this an invaluable resource.” —DOUG SILSBEE, author, Presence-Based Coaching “With an emphasis on thoroughly understanding one’s self as a coach and supporting one’s clients to understand themselves, as well as their contexts, Pam’s book is very resourceful both practically and conceptually. Her very current real-life examples are insightful and useful.” —EDIE SEASHORE, M.A., author, Triple Impact Coaching

For generations the discoveries of science tended to challenge the very existence of God. Templeton makes a striking argument for just the opposite point of view. He goes to the writings of many of the world's leading scientific thinkers—as diverse in background as Albert Einstein and Teilhard de Chardin—and discovers them in awe of the universe, perceiving the hand of Divine mystery at work. The Humble Approach teaches that man can discover and comprehend only a few of the infinite aspects of God's nature, never enough to form a comprehensive theology. The humble approach may be a science still in its infancy, but it seeks to develop a way of knowing God appropriate to His greatness and our littleness.

The more traditional forms of leadership that are based on static hierarchies and professional distance between leaders and followers are growing increasingly outdated and ineffective. As organizations face more complex interdependent tasks, leadership must become more personal in order to insure open trusting communication that will make more collaborative problem solving and innovation possible. Without open and trusting communications throughout organizations, they will continue to face the productivity and quality problems that result from reward systems that emphasize individual competition and “climbing the corporate ladder”. Authors Edgar Schein and Peter Schein recognize this reality and call for a reimagined form of leadership that coincides with emerging trends of relationship building, complex group work, diverse workforces, and cultures in which everyone feels psychologically safe. Humble Leadership calls for “here and now” humility based on a deeper understanding of the constantly evolving complexities of interpersonal, group and intergroup relationships that require shifting our focus towards the process of group dynamics and collaboration. Humble Leadership at all levels and in all working groups will be the key to achieving the creativity, adaptiveness, and agility that organizations will need to survive and grow.