Why Marshall Goldsmiths 'What got you here won't get you there' is relevant for you?

 It was a Tuesday 7:40am. As usual a bunch of parents and kids were waiting for the school bus pick up. I could see one lady running towards us while her daughter was trying hard to cling on to her hand. Finally when they reached us and were catching their breaths, Esha who was standing on my right announced, ‘Priyanka, the bus just left.’ ‘Thanks, I know’, quick came the answer. Esha managed a smile and looked away.

Priyanka’s answer, ‘I know’ looks very innocuous to all of us. But this might have just had a bad effect on Esha, who in all keenness was trying to help. The answer may have just killed that, and I am not sure if Esha would be interested in giving such information in the future. Priyanka should have just stopped at ‘Thanks’. A much better answer acknowledging Esha and conveying she really meant Thank you.

We are better off not doing many such small things in life. Marshall Goldsmith gives many such actionable tips in his book What Got You Here Won't Get You There.

Everyone wants to be successful in her life. She wants to get from here to there. The natural tendency for her is to do more things. We never think of stopping some of our acts so that we can get better. What Got You Here Won't Get You There brings in this fresh perspective into our lives.

Before writing this note, I was scanning the internet to read reviews on the same. A majority of them were highly positive, but there was one which mentioned the tips are good for people who are already somewhere near the top in their corporate careers. I disagree. The story I started with is a good example.

The book is logically divided into four sections:

1. The trouble with success- talks about how your previous success may debilitate you from achieving more.
2. 20 habits that hold you back from top – Some annoying interpersonal issues that you may have
3. How can we change for better – 7 steps to change your interpersonal relationships and making these changes permanent
4. Pulling out the stops – Leaders learn how to apply the rules of change and what to stop doing now

I am not a fan of professional development books, but what I liked about this book is the practicality of the tips. For example you can take the printout of the 20 habits and stick it to your table and make it work in your life.

1. Winning too much: The need to win at all costs and in all situations – when it matters, when it doesn’t, and when it’s totally beside the point.
2. Adding too much value: The overwhelming desire to add our two cents to every discussion.
3. Passing judgment: The need to rate others and impose our standards on them
4. Making destructive comments: The needless sarcasms and cutting remarks that we think make us sound sharp and witty.
5. Starting with “No,” “But,” or “However”: The overuse of these negative qualifiers which secretly say to everyone, “I’m right. You’re wrong.”
6. Telling the world how smart we are: The need to show people we’re smarter than they think we are.
7. Speaking when angry: Using emotional volatility as a management tool.
8. Negativity, or “Let me explain why that won’t work”: The need to share our negative thoughts even when we weren’t asked.
9. Withholding information: The refusal to share information in order to maintain 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; a subset of blaming everyone else.
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 when we’re wrong, or recognize how our actions affect others.
16. Not listening: The most passive-aggressive form of disrespect for 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 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’re who we are.

Almost everything is explained in a story telling mode, so it is easy for you to consume and remember. I personally implemented some of these in my work and personal life and they are working well. ‘How to handle me’ I shared with my team is an example for this.

Another one that comes to my mind is how three seemingly harmless words can ruin many well directed discussions. These words are ‘My two cents’. We have seen these innumerable times in emails and in meetings. It becomes all the more tricky when the manager or the person with authority and after a discussion of about an hour gives his two cents. You have experienced this – these two cents become more that all the cents the entire team has put together. So think before you give your two cents. If your opinion is worth only two cents – don’t give it.

I read some where ‘Marshall Goldsmith charges in six figures to help executives get better. These tips are available for you below $20 through this book’, even lesser if you buy an ebook.

So now stop your two cents opinions and clauses that follow your 'Thank Yous'. Read the book, practise and become better.

Disclaimer: I don’t claim that I am good at practising all what is said in this book. So if you have personally worked with me and think that why the author is not following it, you know why J. But I will get there !

And hopefully Esha and Priyanka are not unhappy with me quoting their names!

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