13. Marshall Goldsmith on Projecting Our Problems Onto Others

Learning the Hard Way the Easy Way

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is among the world’s foremost experts on leadership, a renowned executive coach, thought leader, and New York Times bestselling author. Marshall has been rated the world’s #1 executive coach many times over, with his clients including over 200 of the world’s most highly regarded CEOs. He is a member of the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and the only two-time Thinkers50 #1 Leadership thinker in the world. Marshall's 52 books have sold over three million copies and been translated into 35 languages. In 2023, Chief Executive Magazine listed his book, What Got you Here Won’t Get You There, as one of the Ten Best Business Books ever written. He has been recognized as one of the 50-greatest leaders in America from BusinessWeek, received a lifetime Achievement Award for Teaching from the Institute of Management Studies, been rated as World’s #1 business thinker by Harvard Business Review, and one of the 50 greatest thinkers who have influenced the field of management by the American Management Association. His life was featured in the documentary, “The Earned Life”, and in the The New Yorker profile, "The Better Boss." Dr. Goldsmith received his Ph.D. from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management where he was the distinguished Alumni of the Year, and his MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He has served as Professor of Management Practice at the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business and received an honorary Ph.D. in Engineering from his alma mater Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Marshall joins Alex to delve deep into the nuances of self-awareness, leadership, and personal development. Marshall unveils profound insights into the habit of projecting our problems onto others, shedding light on the complexities of human behavior and the often difficult task of recognizing our own blind spots. Drawing from his wealth of experience, he shares poignant anecdotes and reflections, highlighting the challenges individuals face in realizing others can perceive faults that often elude our self-awareness. As an executive coach with a track record of working alongside top CEOs, Marshall offers a rare glimpse into the world of leadership at the highest echelons. He shares actionable coaching strategies honed through years of experience, emphasizing the significance of seeking guidance and "feedforward" to foster personal and professional growth. Join Alex and Marshall in this thought-provoking episode as they discuss Marshall's formative experiences, the pain of acknowledging personal faults, and transformative coaching approaches aimed at helping individuals realize their untapped potential.
Marshall on LinkedIn
Marshall's Books on Amazon
"The Better Boss" - The New Yorker Profile on Marshall by Larissa MacFarquhar
The Earned Life - Documentary of Marshall's Life