Marshall Goldsmith

JANUARY 30, 2017

Alan started out as an engineer at Boeing. I highly recommend you read it if you want to learn about great leadership – and enjoy a thrilling page turner while you are at it! Alan’s story at Ford is a success story, but it wasn’t always that way for Alan on his leadership journey.

Video 70

Video Learning-by-Doing CEO Engineering 70

Marshall Goldsmith

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

They are looking for the "right answers" - similar to the ones in engineering school. Many of the MBAs who report self-confidence issues are brilliant technicians. They often find the uncertainty and ambiguity of leading people very unsettling. Make peace with ambiguity in decision making.

Prahalad 127

Prahalad Uncertainty CEO Leadership 127

Marshall Goldsmith

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

Following are two classic examples how succession plans may lack realism: The head of engineering is a high performing leader who has the potential to be COO. She has always been in an engineering role. More sophisticated assessments can be built into the development process and administered by a competent coach. Stay realistic.

Planning 118

Planning Efficiency Succession Tips 118

Marshall Goldsmith

OCTOBER 19, 2015

He simply reported on the condition of the company with an attention to detail befitting his background as an engineer. Alan was not ashamed of what he didn’t know, or what he had or hadn’t done. When he didn’t know how to fix a problem, he wasn’t afraid to ask for help. It sounds simple, and it is.

Competitive Advantage 70

Competitive Advantage Video Report Executive Coaching 70

Marshall Goldsmith

AUGUST 4, 2013

His leadership team reversed the company’s poor image and engineered an amazing turnaround – ultimately becoming the Forbes’ most-admired company. From the beginning of the process, Kent led by example. He communicated clear expectations for ethics, values, and behavior.

Development 180

Development 360-Degree Feedback CEO Open-book 180

Marshall Goldsmith

JANUARY 30, 2017

He simply reported on the condition of the company with an attention to detail befitting his background as an engineer. Alan was not ashamed of what he didn’t know, or what he had or hadn’t done. When he didn’t know how to fix a problem, he wasn’t afraid to ask for help. It sounds simple, and it is.

Competitive Advantage 70

Competitive Advantage Video Report Executive Coaching 70

Marshall Goldsmith

MARCH 29, 2011

Here's an interesting definition of global competition: when your classmates at the top engineering and science programs speak English as fluently as you do, and it is their second language! Today, in the same program, my GMAT scores would be considered average, and with the work ethic I had then, I would never have graduated.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Uncertainty Ethics Globalization 126

Marshall Goldsmith

JUNE 16, 2013

And not many people remember that Jack Welch has a PhD in chemical engineering. At some point, you get the benefit of the doubt on skill issues. For example, we assume our doctors know medicine, so we judge them on their bedside manner.

Chemicals 133

Chemicals Welch CFO CEO 133

Marshall Goldsmith

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

Conflict is an unavoidable part of our lives, whether we’re CEOs, entrepreneurs, parents, spouses, engineers or ditch diggers. In some cases, conflict stimulates us to accomplish great things. It can also drag us off course, eroding our relationships, stalling our careers and keeping us from becoming the people we want to become.

Executive Coaching 70

Executive Coaching Tactics Video Positioning 70

Marshall Goldsmith

MAY 17, 2011

His leadership team reversed the company's poor image and engineered an amazing turnaround. For example, Northrop Grumman CEO Kent Kresa inherited a company that had a poor reputation for integrity, a battered stock price, and reputation as one of the least-admired companies. From the start, Kent led by example.

Development 125

Development 360-Degree Feedback CEO Reputation 125

Marshall Goldsmith

FEBRUARY 13, 2012

It was also clear their engineers were at least as respected as their managers. On a recent trip to Google (GOOG), I was amazed to see the efforts the company was making to create a fantastic environment for knowledge workers. It was clear the company was working for the employees as much as the employees were working for the company.

Drucker 126

Drucker Transportation Company Follow-up 126

Marshall Goldsmith

JUNE 22, 2015

It mirrored his training and mindset as an engineer. My friend and former coaching client Alan Mulally knew this and used his concept of organizational structure when he was CEO of Ford. It was off-the-shelf structure, but it was his shelf. It worked for him and Ford spectacularly.

BPR 70

BPR Succession Restructuring Video 70

Marshall Goldsmith

MAY 3, 2011

At Northrop Grumman, CEO Kent Kresa and his leadership team reversed the company's poor image and engineered an amazing turnaround. Having a dialogue with the CEO about his business challenges and developmental needs makes it a lot easier for employees to discuss their own business challenges and developmental needs. -

360-Degree Feedback 115

360-Degree Feedback Gordon CEO Learning-by-Doing 115

Marshall Goldsmith

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The process of re-engineering and streamlining, when coupled with increased demand for services, has led to a situation in which most leaders have more work to do and fewer staff members to help them do it.

Team Building 137

Team Building Team Teamwork Survey 137

Marshall Goldsmith

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

in engineering, but I doubt if any problems he encountered in his last 30 years at General Electric were even remotely related to these skills. We apply these behavioral criteria to almost any successful person – whether it’s a CEO or a plumber. Jack Welch has a Ph.D.

Skills 114

Skills CFO Cost-Benefit Analysis Welch 114

Marshall Goldsmith

MARCH 1, 2011

in engineering, but I doubt if any problems he encountered in his last 30 years at General Electric were even remotely related to these skills. We apply these behavioral criteria to almost any successful person-- whether it's a CEO or a plumber. Jack Welch has a Ph.D.

Skills 123

Skills CFO Cost-Benefit Analysis Welch 123