I like books that ‘tell it like it is.’ No sugar coating. If I want business placebos or palliatives, I can get them from our employees or contractors.
Marshall Goldsmith – the consummate executive coach – came up with the 20 habits that stop us from getting here to there.
- Habit #1: Winning too much.
- Habit #2: Adding too much value.
- Habit #3: Passing judgment.
- Habit #4: Making destructive comments.
- Habit #5: Starting with ‘No,’ ‘But,’ or ‘However.’
- Habit #6: Telling the world how smart we are.
- Habit #7: Speaking when angry.
- Habit #8: Negativity, or ‘Let me explain why that won’t work.’
- Habit #9: Withholding information.
- Habit #10: Failing to give proper recognition.
- Habit #11: Claiming credit that we don’t deserve.
- Habit #12: Making excuses.
- Habit #13: Clinging to the past.
- Habit #14: Playing favorites.
- Habit #15: Refusing to express regret.
- Habit #16: Not listening.
- Habit #17: Failing to express gratitude.
- Habit #18: Punishing the messenger.
- Habit #19: Passing the buck.
- Habit #20: An excessive need to be me.
Life Lesson Earned: Buy, read, underline, and apply Goldsmith’s book: What Got You Here – Won’t Get You There. Then, ask your best friend and harshest critic – your wife – to rate you on each of the above habits. It’ll be eye opening! There are going to be lots of personal lessons learned. Have I done it with my wife. Yes. Did I like it? No!