article thumbnail

Effectively Influencing Decision Makers: Ensuring That Your Knowledge Makes a Difference

Marshall Goldsmith

Former Harvard Professor Chris Argyris pointed out how “upward feedback” often turns into “upward buck-passing”. By demonstrated our lack of commitment to the final decision we may sabotage the chances for effective execution. Successful people love getting ideas aimed at helping them achieve their goals for the future.

Influence 139
article thumbnail

How to Give Feedback to Someone Who Gets Crazy Defensive

Harvard Business Review

Melissa foresees that scenario, but her temperament makes her vulnerable to what business theorist Chris Argyris calls “defensive strategies” — ambiguous, counterproductive behavior chosen to avoid interpersonal discomfort. Defensive strategies become “ skilled incompetence ,” Argyris says.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Your Team Needs an Intervention

Harvard Business Review

Straight out of Argyris''s classic HBR article about why smart people can''t learn," this room is full of people skilled in all elements of leadership except collaborative work and unfamiliar with the messiness of honest, open-ended discussion. But it''s crucial to distinguish between clinical goals and business goals.

Team 8
article thumbnail

What I Learned About Coaching After Losing the Ability to Speak

Harvard Business Review

Finally, there’s the impact on accountability: Research shows that we’re more likely to achieve our goals when we write them down. Clients tell me they actually welcome these conversations that feel more on the record, because they want to make progress on their goals, and the “record” can help measure that.

article thumbnail

28 Leadership Development Recommendations for your Individual Development Plan

Great Leadership By Dan

I recommend it for others but whether it belongs in an IDP would depend on if the organization committing to the type of Leadership presented in the book. If every leader made the effort to do what they said they would do, and only say what they commit to doing , every time, every company would be better run overnight.

article thumbnail

What I Learned from My TED Talk

Harvard Business Review

Our goal today is to learn our way into the future. I could have easily said "It was jet lag" or "I was over-committed and tired from trying to finish my second book." And to a degree, I believe that a lot of what many of us are taught is tied to this notion of perfection, and that it can warp our ability to keep sight of our goals.