“What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter.
Create a “To Stop” List from a list of 20 habits that hold you back. Most of these come from inappropriately sharing or withholding information or emotion. Ask “Is this appropriate? and how much should I convey?”
Obtain feedback from others on how you’re doing. The wisdom of the Johari Window: what is unknown to us may be well-known to others. Our perceptions may well be inaccurate.
- Choose one behavior you’d like to change
- Ask a person for two suggestions that might help
- Listen
- Say “Thank You”
A Simple process for change (not easy, but simple!)
- apologize-recognizing mistakes have been made
- advertise-announcing your intention to change
- listen-with attention
- thank-gratitude is good
- follow-up-act and check back regularly
Follow-up is vital
- Follow-up is an ongoing process
- It’s how we measure progress
- It reminds others of our efforts
Communication
- Send message
- Ask if it was received
- Ask if it was understood
- Ask if it was acted on
Just because we understand, doesn’t mean we will actually do.
We may learn information about the importance of changing something and yet fail to do so. Without follow-up, nothing happens.
Project Phases (can’t skip from 3 to 7):
- assess the situation
- isolate the problem
- formulate solutions
- woo up-upper management approve
- woo laterally-peers agree
- woo down-direct reports accept
- imlementation
See Marshall Goldsmith’s Blog and Library with lots of free information.
I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.
Daily PlanIt 
Thanks for reviewing my new book. It has been a big hit so far – and I hope that readers find it to be useful! If any of your readers have any questions for me – please just have them send me an email. Life is good.
Marshall
Good thoughts! Sometime years ago I began asking my friends if I ever did things that they saw as abrasive or harmful to myself or our relationships to let me know. That I was a person who was desiring critical feedback on myself so that I might be a better friend, a better husband, a better member of my community. If you’re open and honest with the refinement of yourself I think you’ll always come out on top.
Keep the bar high,
-a
Thanks for the write-up. The title reminds me of the quote (Albert Einstein?) “Problems can’t be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them.”