Better Late Than Never!

I think we all try and live without regrets, but invariably some slip through the cracks.

With all the listening and reading of management and leadership related topics, how did I not come across Marshall Goldsmith’s website earlier? What a goldmine of information he provides for free!

If you don’t know who Marshall Goldsmith is go to this link to see all his accolades and awards (www.marshallgoldsmithlibrary.com/html/marshall/Marshall-Goldsmith.html) or just know he is the most successful business “coach” ever. He has written 27 books, yet gives his information away on his website.

Until recently I ran two teams for my employer, a large Product Management team and a small Marketing team. Very different groups, both filled with wonderful hard working people. I worked hard to constantly improve both my personal effectiveness and the team’s effectiveness. For the most part everyone responded. Those that did respond and improved were rewarded, those that didn’t were replaced.

Much of what we implemented was based on the Manager-Tools program (http://www.manager-tools.com/) but some of us were also looking for other ways to improve other areas, everything from time management to leadership abilities. While I and others leveraged some other great sites which will no doubt be included on future posts, the one I wish I came across earlier was Marshall Goldsmith and his library website http://www.marshallgoldsmithlibrary.com/

Unfortunately I started reading and listening to Marshall about 3 weeks prior to my employer selling the company! I just started the process of implementing some of his techniques and both teams are reorganized away from me. Marketing is gone to the new corporate office and Product Management is being lead from a combination of the corporate office and my ex-right hand man (who is totally capable and this is a great opportunity which he is taking excellent advantage of as he should).

Just been given running International Sales leadership which means I will need to build some new teams and you can be certain that I will be using what I am learning from Marshall.

The regret is that I didn’t find him earlier. I could have been more effective and everyone on the teams I was leading could have also been more effective. But we all have to start sometime and I am just thankful I finally found these actionable ideas and steps to becoming more professional and effective.

Has anyone else been reading and implementing Marshall's ideas and programs? If not, why not? and If so, how have they worked for you?