Book summary – what got you here won’t get you there

What got you here won’t get you there

Habits we acquired in our previous success often prevents us from achieving success when required to execute at a higher order of magnitude. Cultivate the habit of dropping priorly acquired habits when they no longer helpful for what is required.

Categories of bad habits to be dropped

  1. Putting personal ego gratification above all else
    • always need to win
    • trying to add to much value
    • telling the world how smart we are
    • Withholding information
    • Failing to give proper recognition
    • Claiming credit that we don’t deserve
    • making excuses
    • Clinging to the past and shifting blame to past events
    • refusing to express regret
    • not listening
    • failing to express gratitude
    • Passing the buck, shifting blame to someone else instead of accepting responsibility
    • An excessive need to be me
  2. Improper management of unpleasant physical sensations
    • Passing judgement
    • making destructive comments
    • speaking when angry
    • playing favorites
    • Punishing the messenger
  3. Not giving space to others
    • Negating suggestions provided by colleagues. Not giving ample space for colleagues to execute on their idea
    • Being anal about explaining why that won’t work
  4. Lack of self-awareness
    1. Verbalizing any internal monologue. The higher up you go the more your suggestions become orders

Change management

  • Get feedback. Practice the discipline of active listening even when what you hear does not sound pleasant.
  • constant follow up
  • expressing gratitude for feedbacks

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