1. What Got You Here Wont Get You
There: How successful people
become even more successful by
Marshall Goldsmith
Simple Not Easy Tips For Success
Marshall Goldsmith--author, coach, and savvy marketer--spells out the
twenty most common bad habits of executives in this book, but you dont
need to be an executive to benefit from his advice. Everyone could stand
to take responsibility for their actions, keep a positive and generous
attitude, and work on (not celebrate) their faults--which is, essentially, the
message of the book.
Here, in Goldsmiths own words, are the twenty habits to avoid:
1. Winning too much: The need to win at all costs and in all situations--
when it matters, when it doesnt, and when its 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, Im right. Youre wrong.
6. Telling the world how smart we are: The need to show people were
smarter than they think we are
7. Speaking when angry: Using emotional volatility as a management tool

2. 8. Negativity, or Let me explain why that wont work: The need to share our
negative thoughts even when we werent 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 dont 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 were 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 theyre who we are
As a coach, I have seen executives exhibit these habits. Its not that
surprising really. Many of these habits develop because executives are
accustomed to success and, therefore, reluctant to acce pt failure. These
executives dont always get to work with people who are as smart or
talented as they are, which can be frustrating and spark anger.
While the habits Goldsmith addresses are understandable, they arent
defensible. Leaders often come to this realization themselves. They reach
a point in their careers where they want to be respected more than feared.
They want to change the way they show up.

3. Goldsmith gives wonderful illustrations of these twenty habits and some
suggestions on how to move away from them. So do yourself a favor and
get this book, which is available in paperback, audio, and kindle. What Got
You Here Wont Get You There: How Successful People Become Even
More Successful
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