The other day, a colleague of mine (a seasoned management consultant but new to coaching executives) asked me for advice in working with a challenging client. Before offering my counsel, I pulled one of my favorite books off the shelf, What Got You Here Won't Get You There by corporate America's preeminent executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, flipped it open, and quickly ran through the titles of the 20 habits Goldsmith says senior executives need to break. A minute or so later I asked my colleague if that sounded like his client. His jaw dropped open and he said it sounded like his client's biography. I smiled. For more years that I can count I said, our CEO, Philip Moore has articulated pretty much the same or similar behaviors that Goldsmith succinctly outlines in his book - they appear to be a universal pattern with successful executives.
Here are those 20 habits that Goldsmith says executives need to break:
- Winning too much.
- Adding too much value.
- Passing judgment.
- Making destructive comments.
- Starting with "No," "But," or "However."
- Telling the world how smart we are.
- Speaking when angry.
- Negativity, or "Let me explain why that won't work."
- Withholding information.
- Failing to give proper recognition.
- Claiming credit that we don't deserve.
- Making excuses.
- Clinging to the past.
- Playing favorites.
- Refusing to express regret.
- Not listening.
- Failing to express gratitude.
- Punishing the messenger.
- Passing the buck.
- An excessive need to be "me."
If just one of these traits is keeping you from getting the results you want, buy this book - it's a winner. He explains each bad habit in depth, and the second half of the book gives great advice on what to do about it.
2010 Copyright © Moore & Associates
