Book review- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith

The book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” is theoretically uncomplicated, easy to understand, and at times, it seems to present nothing “new” in the world of leadership; however, the theory is extremely difficult to apply consistently in practice. It is indeed a self-help book for leaders and those who aspire to be leaders.

Marshall Goldsmith is a renowned leadership coach. As expected, his book primarily discusses the practical issues that cause leaders to feel “stuck” on their leadership journey. For example, in one of his chapters, he deliberates on the greatest mistake of successful people based on the assumption, “I behave this way, and I achieve these results. Therefore, I must be achieving these results because I behave this way.” However, the reality might be that they are successful “in spite of” their behavior.

This book captured my full attention, especially at the times when it discussed how to build strong relationships with our colleagues through gratitude and a willingness to accept constructive criticism. It emphasises that a simple thank you to our coworkers can create extraordinary changes in our lives. The concept is both simple and crucial.

Out of the 20 ‘dos and don'ts’ habits highlighted in the book, my favourites are detailed below. However, I won't elaborate on them; I shall prefer that readers explore these habits in the book themselves.

1. Feeling the need to win too much

2. Starting with "No," "But," or "However"

3. Withholding information

4. Failing to give proper recognition

5. Not listening

6. Failing to express gratitude

Conclusion- This book is a must-read for managers and leaders eager to make meaningful progress by embracing thoughtful changes to their own behaviors. It’s probably not the best fit for executives who might be a bit closed off to self-reflection or aren’t ready to commit to a steady, structured approach for gradually transforming their habits.

Quote from the book-

“Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others.”

“A leader who cannot shoulder the blame is not someone we will follow blindly into battle. We instinctively question that individual’s character, dependability, and loyalty to us. And so we hold back on our loyalty to him or her.”

“Overcommitment can be as serious an obstacle to change as believing that you don’t need fixing or that your flaws are part of the reason you’re successful.”

“...helping people be “right” is more productive than proving them “wrong.”

“If you keep your mouth shut, no one can ever know how you really feel.”