What Got You Here Won't Get You There

Marshall Goldsmith argues that successful executives often reach a plateau because the very behaviors that fueled their early rise—such as a need to win every argument or a tendency to withhold information—become liabilities at higher levels. The book identifies twenty specific interpersonal habits that hinder professional growth, including adding too much value to subordinates' ideas, making destructive comments, and failing to provide recognition. Goldsmith introduces a behavioral change framework centered on feedback and feedforward, emphasizing that technical skill matters less than emotional intelligence and self-correction once a leader occupies a senior role.

This book serves experienced managers and executives who feel stuck despite their high performance. Readers use these strategies to identify their own blind spots through objective peer feedback and systematic apology. The text provides a pragmatic blueprint for improving how a leader is perceived by others, ensuring they can transition from being a brilliant individual contributor to an effective organizational head. A reader walks away with a concrete system for measuring behavioral progress and maintaining better workplace relationships through active listening and consistent follow-up.

Growth-minded and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Growth Strategist. Which reader are you?