Meet Marshall Goldsmith. New York Times Best Selling #Author, #Leadership Expert and #Executive Coach. If you haven’t heard of him listen up. He is recognized as the #1 leadership thinker and executive coach. In fact, he has been an advisor to more than 150 CEO’s and their management teams. He has a Ph.D from UCLA and has written 39 books. He is also a teacher and facilitator of Tuck’s (Dartmouth) MBA Leadership Coaching program. I have read several of his books and I follow him on #LinkedIn which I would highly advise as he is very active posting many videos and articles.
Here is his LinkedIn profile link: http://linkedin.com/in/marshallgoldsmith
Find him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachgoldsmith
[PhotoCredit: Book Photo-Susan Hansen library]
However, you don’t have to be a CEO to benefit from his wisdom. Many of the articles on #LinkedIn and in his books address everyday issues for C- level execs but also benefit those at all levels of climbing the corporate ladder. One of his books that has left a lasting impression on me is:
“What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There”.
After his dedication page he has a very succinct quote from Shakespeare: “ Happy are they that can hear their retractions and put them to mending”
This book focuses on some of the dysfunctions of leadership or really anyone by pointing out what to avoid and how to do it differently. It gives great insight into what habits may be holding you back from making it to the next level. Chapter 4 is the heart of this book identifying 20 habits or flaws that keep you from getting where you want to be in your career.
Here are the first 5 habits he lists in his book in detail:
1) Winning Too Much- addressing over competitiveness. Too much of a good thing
2) Adding Too Much Value- described as “classic smart person behavior”- Trying to add
too much to a conversation , overly displaying prowess to an annoying level
3)Passing Judgement-When asking a question don’t “grade the answer” just accept the response. In other words , if in a group setting don’t tell one person “great answer” and not acknowledge someone else’s response. It creates an atmosphere of ranking peoples input and makes them defensive
4)Making Destructive Comments- These are sarcastic, snarky remarks intended to be negative and do nothing to add value. Save them. No one wants to hear them
5)Starting with a “No” , “But” or “However”- This typically sends the message to the person you are addressing that they are wrong instead of you just having a different opinion.
Pick up a copy of his book to checkout the other 15 habits he chronicles in Chapter 4 & pay attention to Chapter 5 titled “The 21st habit”- Goal Obsession. Goldsmith devotes a whole chapter to this habit and its “paradoxical trait” . What he describes here is getting so wrapped up in achieving a goal you forget about the larger mission or big picture.
Read the rest of Chapter 5 as well as the rest of the book to gain greater insights in to the mind of one of the most accomplished executive coaches with real scenarios you will find yourself identifying with as you move through each chapter. In the end, it will put you on a path of self discovery with remedies to solve those bad or annoying behaviors that you may not even know you are doing or may not know how to fix. Goldsmith offers a roadmap to take advantage of to put you back on the ladder moving upward instead of standing still.
XO & #StayCurious
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