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Archive: Marshall Goldsmith
Consultants aren't leaders
When the outside consultant starts "calling the plays" for the team, the role has changed from "advisor" to "executive."
By Marshall Goldsmith | October 26, 2009; 03:03 PM ET | Comments (2)
Acting the Part
Like great Broadway actors, great leaders stay in role. This discipline is not part of being a phony, it is part of being a professional.
By Marshall Goldsmith | October 6, 2009; 06:25 AM ET | Comments (1)
Stabbed in the Back
One of the great weaknesses of the West (and our allies) in dealing with Ahmedinejad is our inability to execute a mutually agreed-upon, coordinated strategy.
By Marshall Goldsmith | September 28, 2009; 01:45 PM ET | Comments (1)
Aligning Rewards and Hopes
If newly minted MBA grads wanted to help the world achieve "long-term health," they would have become medical doctors! The reward system has to change first.
By Marshall Goldsmith | September 14, 2009; 03:09 PM ET | Comments (26)
Great In Retrospect
There have never been many "giants" in America's (or any country's) politics while they were alive.
By Marshall Goldsmith | August 31, 2009; 02:42 PM ET | Comments (0)
Keep On Plugging
All leaders can learn from his willingness to keep on working under difficult circumstances and to let go of his own "need to be right" in order to find meaningful compromise.
By Marshall Goldsmith | August 27, 2009; 11:10 AM ET | Comments (0)
Not a Dictatorship
Our president's role should not be to "punish" people who stand up for their own interests - or to threaten members of Congress.
By Marshall Goldsmith | August 18, 2009; 12:56 PM ET | Comments (1)
When Leaders Act Like Human Beings
When a leader admits to mistakes and reaches out to others for reconciliation, he or she makes it easier for others to just be human.
By Marshall Goldsmith | August 3, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (0)
Forgive More, Judge Less
The desire to 'punish' you predecessor can come back to haunt a leader. Who knows what decisions President Obama will have to make - that he may not want to discuss - to protect national security.
By Marshall Goldsmith | July 14, 2009; 07:44 AM ET | Comments (29)
A Rational Resignation
While Sarah Palin's resignation may not facilitate her election as President of the United States, it may well be a good move for her personally.
By Marshall Goldsmith | July 7, 2009; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (0)
Practical Zen
Simple Buddhist ideas like "let go of the past", "make peace with what you cannot change" and "be in the moment" are applicable to everything from athletics and business to life.
By Marshall Goldsmith | June 16, 2009; 11:26 AM ET | Comments (0)
Pride Without Put-Downs
Leaders who share their personal history can "humanize" themselves, yet it is important to focus on what you learned from that background without "putting down" someone else who has had a different background.
By Marshall Goldsmith | June 8, 2009; 02:34 PM ET | Comments (1)
Hands Off? Not Likely
To pretend that a 60% owner of the business will be totally "hands off" is not credible. My suggestion is that the government be honest with both GM and the public on their planned for level of involvement.
By Marshall Goldsmith | June 1, 2009; 10:53 AM ET | Comments (0)
Get a New Life
My guess that, in most cases, when a former incumbent puts down a successor the main motivation is ego - not altruism. Former leaders should "get a new life" and try to help the world be a better place.
By Marshall Goldsmith | May 11, 2009; 01:02 PM ET | Comments (0)
Radical Truth-Telling
My advice would be to forget about brinkmanship and other forms of game playing. Why not try acting like adults, telling the truth, making needed compromises and doing whatever can be done to keep the ship afloat?
By Marshall Goldsmith | May 4, 2009; 02:26 PM ET | Comments (0)
Tell the Truth
Efforts to "protect the public" seldom work anyway - and usually come back later to haunt the people who were withholding information.
By Marshall Goldsmith | April 27, 2009; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (0)
Judging the Results
Research shows clearly that leaders can become more effective through feedback and training - not as judged by themselves, but as judged by their direct reports and co-workers.
By Marshall Goldsmith | April 21, 2009; 06:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
Small, Refreshing Changes
Leaders of other countries are under no moral or legal obligation to do what we want. By gaining their commitment we will not get everything that we want - but we will get something!
By Marshall Goldsmith | April 6, 2009; 11:52 AM ET | Comments (1)
Every Right To Call the Shots
In essence, the Unites States government and the taxpayers now own General Motors - and have every right to call the shots. A CEO is never more powerful than an owner.
By Marshall Goldsmith | March 30, 2009; 11:08 AM ET | Comments (3)
Private Acts
If you are going to voluntarily take a pay cut, it might be even more impressive to do it privately -- instead of publicly.
By Marshall Goldsmith | March 15, 2009; 09:54 PM ET | Comments (0)
Get Congress Involved
Congress is going to have to approve whatever plan he suggests. Why not skip ahead and get them involved in the development of the plan?
By Marshall Goldsmith | March 2, 2009; 11:35 AM ET | Comments (0)
The High Road to Democracy
Democracy is about choosing to swallow one's pride for the team or continue to fight for a cause that one believes in.
By Marshall Goldsmith | February 23, 2009; 09:52 AM ET | Comments (0)
Losing the Way on "The River Kwai"
Sir Alec Guinness' character in the movie shows how leaders can become so obsessed with reaching their goal that they can lose their humanity along the way.
By Marshall Goldsmith | February 17, 2009; 10:07 AM ET | Comments (1)
Hiring Time
Eliminating a percentage of jobs across the board makes no business sense: some divisions may be growing. In fact, with so unemployed talent, it might be time to hire.
By Marshall Goldsmith | February 9, 2009; 09:16 AM ET | Comments (0)
Quasi-Government Employees
Bonus numbers that seemed "normal" just a few months ago may be viewed as "obscene" by new stakeholders today. It will take a while for bankers to realize they are now quasi-government employees.
By Marshall Goldsmith | February 2, 2009; 03:30 PM ET | Comments (16)
Realism Versus High Expectations
Although President Obama speaks to us realistically about our challenges, I worry his fans aren't hearing him -- while hoping he continues to speak candidly.
By Marshall Goldsmith | January 21, 2009; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (0)
Open Ears, Open Mind
He strives to see the value of differing opinions, and, if he keeps it up, such a leadership style would be a welcome change from the past eight years.
By Marshall Goldsmith | January 12, 2009; 11:10 AM ET | Comments (1)
So "Right," So Wrong
He did what he thought was right and stuck to that course of action -- to a fault.
By Marshall Goldsmith | January 5, 2009; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (3)
Columnist Tom Friedman
Rather than responding to issues in a canned 'liberal' or 'conservative' voice, he actually thinks!
By Marshall Goldsmith | December 30, 2008; 09:58 AM ET | Comments (17)
An Accepting Boss
Let's face it - we have all been a little naughty and Santa has still come through for us!
By Marshall Goldsmith | December 23, 2008; 03:34 PM ET | Comments (0)
Fight Other Battles
Obama should focus on the issues that are going to make the biggest difference to the the country, and this is not one of those issues.
By Marshall Goldsmith | December 15, 2008; 10:34 AM ET | Comments (1)
