(This is a guest post, written in association with Anagha Arsud)
As one reaches the mid-career level, with around 15 years of experience. One reaches a plateau. Generally, a person reaches the mid-manager position level by this time.
He starts looking at the peak.
This peak may be a general manager, CIO, CTO, CFO, CHRO, or CEO.
A CXO: c-suite position.
And people are often stuck there.
A road seems an arduous and uphill task.
Navigation becomes difficult.
Isn’t this what is outlined in Peter’s law?
Marshall Goldsmith’s book “What got you here won’t take you there” also touches on the same point.
About the Author:
Marshall Goldsmith is not an ordinary self-help author.
He holds a doctorate in organizational behavior and is an accomplished coach of 100s of CXOs around the world. Featured in Thinkers50, he has written for Harvard Business Review and penned several books on coaching and self-development.
About Book:
This book argues that the current role and position is not enough to succeed anymore. The behaviors that brought you here in this current position will prove to be a hurdle for the upcoming path.
Peter’s law or principle also says the same thing. People in a hierarchy tend to rise to a level of incompetence. They are promoted to a place where they become defunct or ineffective.
For example: Techie joins a firm, just out of engineering school, and becomes a team or tech lead within a few years. And eventually becomes a manager in a few years. Now he needs to know technical skills, which are necessary but not sufficient. He needs altogether different skills, such as influencing, inspiring, negotiating, and listening. Earlier technical skills become a hurdle. Those who continue to rely on technical skills may become micromanagers.
Another way to say this is that incumbents who are promoted are confident but no more competent.
20 Habits:
The book outlines 20 habits that hold back individuals.
- Winning too much.
- Adding too much value.
- Passing judgment.
- Making destructive comments.
- Starting with no, but, or however.
- Telling the world how smart we are..
- Speaking when angry.
- Negativity, or let me explain why that won’t work.
- Withholding information.
- Failing to give proper recognition.
- Claiming credit that we don’t deserve.
- Making excuses.
- Clinging to the past.
- Playing favourites.
- Refusing to express regret.
- Not listening.
- Failing to express gratitude.
- Punishing the messenger.
- Passing the buck.
- An excessive need to be ‘me’.
Way Forward:
However, the book offers ways to move forward. A few suggestions the author gave are:
- 360-degree feedback. (Widely used in coaching)
- Sincere apology
- Advertise your effort
- Listen, Listen, and Listen
- Feed forward
- Follow up.
Bottom line, if you have stopped growing; if you have not got the promotion you aspire for; if you have your eyes on the higher management role like CXO, this is a book worth your time.