Emotional Intelligence, Interpersonal Communication Skills, and Leadership Blog

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Marshall Goldsmith, renowned executive coach, has a new book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful [Hyperion, 2007]. Marshall synthesizes the 21 “bad habits” that hold leaders back from achieving even further success, including making destructive comments, speaking when angry, negativity, failing to give proper recognition, playing favorites, and not listening.

In addition to outlining the bad habits that hold leaders back from the top, Goldsmith suggests methods to change behaviors and remove the obstacles. For example, seeking feedback, listening to it, and accepting and internalizing it can be extremely helpful, but only if leaders are willing to make four commitments:

1. Let go of the past.
2. Tell the truth.
3. Be supportive and helpful – not cynical or negative.
4. Pick something to improve yourself – so everyone is focused more on “improving” than “judging.”

I can offer you a great way to “Pick something to improve yourself” – get my individual or Group Executive Coaching. I can facilitate your toning down your “bad habits” and learning new ones such as seeking feedback. To explore my Group Executive Coaching, you may have a Complimentary Session. To sign up or get more information, please click here: http://www.EmotionallyIntelligentLeadership.com/index.htm#bottom

One comment for this post.

  1. Comment from Mary ann Zarnick:

    This sounds very interesting and very helpfultips for leaders. it brings to mind a situation that I’m facing about an employee I dislike because of his being sneaky about a situation I said wasn’t permissible and then manipulating the situation to do it anyway. I would think he should be terminated for violating the rules and I thought the director was going to issue a warning but hasn’t and now the person is taking a new job come the end of August. He isn’t aware that I know about what he did and this eats at me because it is unfair. so maybe I need to learn how to “let go” any other advice you have would be great! I know others struggle with this also. Mary Ann

    June 20th, 2011

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