
← Product Powers - Human Skills for Product Thinkers to Thrive in the Age of AI16. Sept. 2025 · 45 Min.
The Question is the Answer and Why Great Leaders Don’t Give the Best Answers
Laura Ashley-Timms, COO of Notion and co-author of 'The Answer is a Question,' discusses the revolutionary impact of operational coaching.
Laura shares insights from a comprehensive study with the London School of Economics, revealing how operational coaching can significantly enhance productivity, collaboration, and job satisfaction.
Practical scenarios, such as dealing with urgent problems and delivering bad news, are explored to illustrate the effectiveness of the STAR model.
The episode also highlights the emotional and practical benefits of adopting this coaching style in personal and professional settings, emphasizing its universal applicability and potential to transform workplace cultures.
00:00 Introduction
03:06 Meet Laura Ashley-Timms: A Global Leader in Coaching
04:08 The Missing Superpower: Operational Coaching
13:15 The STAR Model: A Framework for Effective Management
18:41 Applying the STAR Model in Real Scenarios
23:04 Managing Overwhelm and Taking on Too Much
23:22 Delivering Bad News with Empathy
24:11 Preparing for Challenging Conversations