What Got You Here Won't Get You There

What Got You Here Won't Get You There examines the behavioral habits that can derail successful executives and leaders. Marshall Goldsmith draws from decades of experience as an executive coach to identify common interpersonal mistakes that prevent career advancement at the highest levels. The book outlines twenty specific behaviors that successful people need to eliminate, from failing to listen to making excuses. Goldsmith provides a systematic approach for recognizing these habits and implementing lasting behavioral changes through feedback and follow-through. Each chapter includes real-world examples from Goldsmith's coaching practice and concrete steps for overcoming career-limiting behaviors. The book also contains assessment tools and exercises for readers to evaluate their own habits and track their progress. The work challenges assumptions about success and leadership, suggesting that the traits and approaches that enable early career wins can become liabilities at more senior levels. This fundamental paradox forms the foundation for a broader examination of personal growth and professional transformation.

Readers value the book's focus on interpersonal behaviors that can derail careers, particularly the identification of 20 specific workplace habits. Many cite the book's direct, actionable advice and real-world examples from Goldsmith's executive coaching experience. Liked: - Clear structure and digestible chapters - Practical solutions for common workplace issues - Focus on small behavioral changes with big impacts - Straightforward writing style without jargon Disliked: - Repetitive content - Examples focused mainly on high-level executives - Some readers found advice obvious or common sense - Limited relevance for non-management roles Several readers noted the book could have been condensed into a shorter format. One reviewer said "the meat of the book could fit in 50 pages." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (37,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,000+ ratings) Notable quote from a reviewer: "Changed how I communicate with my team - stopped adding 'but' to every conversation and saw immediate results."

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🌟 Marshall Goldsmith was ranked as the #1 Leadership Thinker in the World and the #7 Business Thinker in the World by Thinkers50, a prestigious ranking of global business thinkers. 📚 The book's title was inspired by a conversation Goldsmith had with architect Frank Gehry, who explained that successful people often fail to realize that the behaviors that helped them succeed can become obstacles later in their careers. 🏆 What Got You Here Won't Get You There won the Harold Longman Award for Business Book of the Year in 2007 and has been translated into 30 languages. 💡 The author identified 20 specific workplace habits that hold back successful people, with the #1 habit being "Winning too much" - the need to win at all costs, even in situations where winning doesn't matter. 🌍 Goldsmith pioneered the use of "360-degree feedback" in executive coaching, where leaders receive anonymous feedback from their colleagues, a method prominently featured in the book's improvement strategies.