In How to Work with (Almost) Anyone, Michael Bungay Stanier outlines how to set up working relationships for the best chance of success—by following a process of thorough preparation, a keystone conversation, and regular maintenance.

Bungay Stanier, founder of coaching firm Box of Crayons, is a world-renowned thought leader on coaching and author of the best-selling coaching book, The Coaching Habit. In his most recent book, he focuses on relationship-building, providing readers with processes and principles, as well as exercises and ample practical advice to sharpen their skills.

Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Bungay Stanier discusses how to build the “best possible relationship” and how to maintain and repair it over time. Moreover, they assess how to create a corporate culture conducive to these relationships, and how to make these relationships work in a hybrid or remote setting.

Key topics discussed:

01:22 | How to make difficult relationships more workable

03:39 | Definition of a “best possible relationship” and how to build it

05:54 | How to have a keystone conversation

12:26 | The impact of corporate culture and different personality types

15:44 | How to maintain and repair relationships

20:42 | The implications of hybrid and remote work

22:31 | How leaders can apply these lessons in their organizations