Frank's Short Library: Section Two

Section Two is made up of pieces my good friend, and colleague, Marshall Goldsmith has written. Marshall has received many awards. Just a few include: The American Management Association named Dr. Goldsmith as one of 50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management over the past 80 years and Business Week listed him as one of the most influential practitioners in the history of leadership development.  Please visit marshallgoldsmithlibrary.com to gain a better sense of all that Marshall offers to any leader. With Marshall's permission, I have included here some of my personal favorites, all from a series he first wrote for FastCompany .

HELPING SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE GET EVEN BETTER

All of these short articles come from the online Library of Marshall Goldsmith.

How to Learn the Truth about Yourself

In this article Marshall powerfully demonstrates the wisdom that anybody can change, but they have to want to change. Sometimes the best way to hear a tough message about ourselves is by tieing it to where we live, not where they work.

Making a Resolution that Matters

This article explains the wisdom of making the reverse of the typical New Years resolution.  The advise is to look behind, not forward.  Think like you are a very old person reflecting on your life and what it would have taken to live a fulfilling life.

Nice Guys Can Finish First

This article illustrates the not always apparent truth that other things being equal, your people skills (or lack thereof) become more pronounced the higher up you go. In fact, even when all other things are not equal, your people skills often make the difference in how high you go. Who would you rather have as a CFO? A moderately good accountant who is great with people outside the firm and skilled at managing very smart people? Or a brilliant accountant who's inept with outsiders and alienates all the smart people under him?

Adding Value – But at What Cost?

This article points out one of the most common challenges that successful people face is a constant need to win. When the issue is important, they want to win. When the issue is trivial, they want to win. Even when the issue isn't worth the effort or is clearly to their disadvantage, they still want to win.

If they don't care, Don't waste your time

Marshall is a Buddhist.  Because of this one of his goals is to help others have a happier life.  In this article he makes the valuable point that if you are trying to change people who don't care -- either at work or home -- let it go.  You'll not only have a more productive life, you'll be happier too.

Don't Just Check the Box

This article describes the common gap between "I say" and "they do."  Leaders have to come to grips with the notion that if people understand, then they will do.  Communicating the message is not a check off the box activity.

Give Yourself a Chance

This article describes the phenonenon today where most leaders have learned not to make stereotypical comments about race, sex, or ethic origin.  The bad news is that they still make a lot of self-limiting comments about themselves.