Latest Book Review: WhatGot You Here, Won't Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith

I spend an inordinate amount of time at work in conversation with people about their personal and professional development. Be it with established CEOs, leaders and managers or with emerging talent that is keen to climb the career ladder, I find myself often sought out for feedback that helps people understand how they can develop and progress.

One book that really helped my own personal and professional development was Marshall Goldsmith's 'What Got You Here Won't Get You There'. An enlightening dive into leadership mindset, Goldsmith shines an important light on the traps people can fall into when climbing the career ladder and which, if not careful, can place ceilings in place preventing people from growing and progressing in line with their desires.

Built around twenty habits that stop people from reaching the top of their trade, he shares important lessons regarding the beliefs leaders often unhelpfully hold onto and which can stop a person's career in its tracks. Beliefs like,

1. I have succeeded and therefore will continue to succeed

2. I can succeed as what got me here will continue to enable me to be successful

3. I will succeed. Period!

4. I choose to succeed and to do so, I must continue to do what got me here

In Goldsmith's words, "Successful people never drink from a glass that’s half empty." They operate from a position of optimism which can sometimes blind them to what needs to change and how they need to change.

"Successful people believe that they have the capability within themselves to make desirable things happen." In being blind to what need to change, leaders often kid themselves into believing that past success guarantees future success even when the odds are severely stacked against this.

"Successful people have an unflappable optimism. They not only believe that they can manufacture success, they believe it’s practically their due." Being blind to personal change and blind to weaknesses and gaps a leader might themself have, sees an unyielding confidence develop in some. Where humility should reside, arrogance can often camp out.

"Successful people have very few reasons to change their behaviour – and lots of reasons to stick with the status quo - so they feel it's smart to continue doing what they’ve always done." When a leader fails to have the humility to ask "what don't I know?" and "how can I improve" they double down on the strategies that got them this far in the first place, unable to recognise that they are trapped at a ceiling of their own making and unable to progress any further.

What should successful leaders be doing? Well it doesn't hurt to tackle some of the leadership behaviours Goldsmith promotes as part of his process for breaking leaders through that ceiling of their own making:

1. Seek feedback constantly

2. Apologise when you get things wrong

3. Tell the world what you intend to do differently

4. Listen actively

5. Think critically

6. Follow up and follow through

As leaders, we should always be improving. There is no finish line or mountain top for which we can conquer the leadership challenge. Find the one or two vital issues that others believe are stopping you from being even better and you’ll know where to start the next chapter of your development journey.