What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful |...

What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful | Marshall Goldsmith, Mark Reiter | Words of wisdom from an outstanding executive coach

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What Got You Here ...

	What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful Marshall Goldsmith, Mark Reiter Hyperion, 2007 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 199 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Consistently Marshall-esque and direct

If you do nothing else over the summer, pick up Marshall Goldsmith's simple yet consistently Marshall-esque and direct book, What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful. I recently had a chance to meet Marshall at the Vistage International 50th anniversary conference. His unassuming presence completely disarms you with the fact that he is the personal coach to some of the Fortune 500's most elite CEOs.

Early on in his book, he references the most annoying interpersonal issues in the workplace today. We thought these might be a relevant reference point as many deter you from developing intentional, strategic, and thus quantifiable business relationships.

For example, he talks about the importance of knowing when to stop. Have you ever thought about the stupid things top people do that they need to stop doing now? Get out a notepad and instead of the usual "to do" list, start a "to stop" list.

Goldsmith points out that not all behaviors can be categorized as good or bad. Many are simply neutral. In 2008, if you choose to be nicer, for example, instead of creating a long list of positive actions such as complimenting people, saying please and thank you, listening more patiently, and treating them with verbal respect (often a daunting task), a simpler way that doesn't require much effort at all is to just stop being a jerk! You don't have to think of ways to be nicer, all you really have to do is nothing! When someone offers a less than stellar plan, don't criticize - just say nothing! If your decisions are challenged, don't argue or make excuses - just quietly consider it and keep your critiques to yourself.

Before fixing bad behavior, you first have to identify the most common faults. These are not flaws of skill, intelligence, or unchangeable personality, but often challenges in interpersonal and leadership behavior. Many of our flaws are transactional and performed one person against another.

The 20 Habits That Hold You Back from the Top

1. Winning too much. The need to win at all costs and in all situations even when wining doesn't really matter and is totally beside the point.
2. Adding too much value. The overwhelming desire to add our opinion to every discussion.
3. Passing judgment. The need to impose our standards on others.
4. Making destructive comments. Needless sarcasm and cutting remarks that we think make us sound sharp and witty.
5. Starting anything with "no, but or however." Seldom anything good comes after these and as negative qualifiers, they secretly say to everyone, "I am right and you are wrong."
6. Telling the world how smart we are. The need to show people we are smarter than they think we are.
7. Speaking when angry. Using emotional volatility as a management tool.
8. Negativity. "Let me explain why that won't work" is a need to share our negative thoughts even when we were not asked.
9. Withholding information. The refusal to share information in order to maintain control or an advantage over others.
10. Failing to give proper recognition. The inability to praise and reward.
11. Claiming credit that we don't deserve. The most annoying way to overestimate our contribution to any success.
12. Making excuses. The need to reposition our annoying behavior as a permanent fixture so people excuse us for it.
13. Clinging to the past. The need to deflect blame away from ourselves and onto events and people from our past.
14. Playing favorites. Failing to see that we are treating someone unfairly.
15. Refusing to express regret. The inability to take responsibility for our actions, admit we're wrong, or recognize how our actions affect others.
16. Not listening. The most passive aggressive form of disrespect of colleagues.
17. Failing to express gratitude. The most basic form of bad manners.
18. Punishing the messenger. The misguided need to attack the innocent who are usually only trying to help us.
19. Passing the buck. The need to blame everyone but ourselves.
20. An excessive need to be "me." Exalting our faults as virtues simply because they make us who we are.

Check yourself against the list. Though it is unlikely you are guilty of all of these annoying habits, you can probably narrow the list to 1-2 vital issues that will show you where to work on in 2008 and beyond.

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Words of wisdom from an outstanding executive coach

From a purely economic perspective, this may be among the most valuable books in print. If every executive followed the advice in this book, we wouldn't have more than 100 million Americans who are not engaged in their jobs and, as a result, productivity and innovation would soar.

In this book, uber-executive coach Marshall Goldsmith shares his insights about the most common habitual behaviors that prevent leaders from reaching their potential and how to overcome them. We all have these blind spots that others see but we don't. It's part of the human condition. In this book Marshall provides the best description I have ever seen of the most common blind spots. Marshall provides thorough explanations and illustrates his points with compelling anonymous examples from his work with high achievers. Reading this book is the next best thing to having Marshall as a coach.

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Excellent Read

Undoubtedly one of the best books I have read this year. The direct and powerful advice in this book will beat your expectations. Highly recommended.

Excellent Read - Right on

In this book, the author makes some valid points that is applicable to anyone in the business community. The language seems geared more towards executive coaches rather than the business leaders themselves. Overall, this book contains some very good and practical information, however, it was a little bit too much common sense for me and hence the 4 stars instead of 5. For example, one action item states: List the 25 people who have helped you the most in your life. Now, write a thank-you note to each of them.

The book starts with "paradox of success" - the same behaviors that helped you succeed can now bring you down. It goes on to explain 21 bad habits and provides examples on how to correct them. It continues on to a 7-step procedure to cure a bad workplace habit. It is a good book which can help improve your leadership & day-to-day management skills.

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