#142 Marshall Goldsmith: The Essentials Of Leadership
Jul 12, 2022
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Marshall Goldsmith, a world-renowned executive coach and author, shares unique insights from coaching top CEOs. He discusses the surprising ease of changing behavior compared to perceptions, emphasizing that leadership is a collaborative journey rooted in service. Goldsmith reveals how words can derail conversations and promotes daily self-reflection for personal growth. He highlights the necessity of community in leadership, especially during challenging times, and encourages leaders to focus on meaningful connections and the joy of the process rather than just results.
Prioritize contribution over proving intelligence and righteousness.
Gain confidence, motivate others, and change behavior, not just perception.
Recognize self-limiting beliefs and cultivate new habits for personal growth.
Align aspirations, actions, and enjoyment of the journey for a meaningful life.
Deep dives
The importance of shifting from a focus on being right and smart to making a positive difference
It is crucial to recognize that constantly proving one's intelligence and righteousness is not the key to making a positive impact. Rather than fixating on being the smartest or always being right, individuals should aim to contribute positively to the world.
Key lessons on leadership from Marshall Goldsmith
Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned leadership coach, shares valuable insights on leadership. He emphasizes the need to gain confidence, motivate others, and avoid the trap of changing perception instead of behavior. Goldsmith also highlights the importance of effective decision-making, creating a conducive environment, and maintaining consistency.
The impact of beliefs and habits on personal change
Goldsmith emphasizes the significance of changing both beliefs and habits to facilitate personal growth. By altering self-perceptions and behaviors, individuals can improve their effectiveness as leaders. Recognizing self-limiting beliefs and cultivating new habits are key to personal and professional development.
The three components of a great life
Goldsmith outlines three essential elements for a fulfilling life: aspirations, ambitions, and day-to-day activities. Having a sense of purpose, setting meaningful goals, and finding joy in daily actions contribute to a great life. He also encourages individuals to detach their self-worth from external achievements and focus on personal growth and satisfaction.
Importance of Sympathy
Sympathy plays a crucial role in understanding others and connecting with them on an emotional level. There are three types of sympathy discussed: sympathy of understanding, sympathy of feeling, and sympathy of caring. Each type can have positive and negative effects, so it is important to recognize when and how to express sympathy to effectively connect with others.
Being Present and Letting Go
Successful leaders and individuals need to let go of their previous roles, emotions, and distractions in order to be fully present in their current roles and engagements. By focusing on the present moment and adapting to different situations, individuals can optimize their performance and relationships.
Reflecting on Life and Making a Positive Difference
The ultimate measure of success is not based on external achievements, but rather on aligning one's aspirations, actions, and enjoyment of the journey. Leading a meaningful life involves prioritizing happiness, nurturing relationships, pursuing personal dreams, and making a positive impact on others.
My guest today is Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world’s leading executive coaches.
We discuss the surprising lessons he’s learned coaching some of the best CEOs in the world, where confidence comes from, common mistakes leaders make, why changing behavior is easier than changing perception, how to change others’ perceptions when you change your behavior, the three words that kill any conversation, the relationship between intensity and consistency, and so much more.
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