The Weekend University

Beginners Mind, Positive Provocation, & The Path to Coaching Mastery - Dr. Robert Biswas Diener

The Weekend University

Show Notes

Sign up for a Positive Acorn course today and join their upcoming live courses in September 2026 — https://positiveacorn.com/courses

Robert Biswas-Diener is a coach, author, and researcher known for his original thinking and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom in the coaching field. His books include "Positive Provocation" and "The Upside of Your Dark Side," both of which explore nuanced perspectives on coaching and human psychology.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Why coaching is "easy to learn but hard to master" and the patience required to develop true expertise

— How observing other coaches (especially those with different approaches) accelerated Robert's growth as a coach

— The value of short coaching sessions for developing efficiency and precision

— Why Robert believes we should question coaching "fortune cookie wisdom" and think more deeply about our practice

— The nuanced approach to giving advice and challenging clients in coaching relationships

And more.

You can learn more about Robert's work and training programs at https://positiveacorn.com.

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Robert Biswas-Diener is a psychologist, author, and “Positive Provocation” thought-leader who asks provocative questions that challenge conventional wisdom in coaching. Co-author of Radical Listening and author of Positive Provocation: 25 Questions to Elevate Your Coaching Practice, his work helps coaches deepen their practice through curiosity, experimentation, and reflection. You can check more about his work at https://robertdiener.com/.

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Interview Links:

— Dr. Biswas-Diener’s website - https://positiveacorn.com

— Dr. Biswas-Diener’s book - https://amzn.to/3KmcVN0

— Positive Acorn's courses - https://positiveacorn.com/courses/

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