Exclusive video interview with Marshall Goldsmith, World-renowned Leadership coach

Summary

In this insightful talk, Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned executive coach, shares his unique approach to leadership development. He emphasizes the importance of choosing the right clients, using tools like 'feedforward' for continuous improvement, and the evolving qualities needed for future leaders—global thinking, cultural diversity, technological awareness, and stakeholder capitalism. Goldsmith discusses the shift from top-down leadership to collaboration and facilitation, stressing that effective leaders must listen, ask the right questions, and balance the interests of all stakeholders for long-term success. His message is clear: the key to leadership success lies in constant learning and adapting to change.

Takeaways

• 😀 The success of an executive coach depends on selecting the right clients, as coaching effectiveness is determined by the clients' ability to improve.
• 😀 Alan Mulally, former CEO of Ford, demonstrated the power of customer selection by achieving significant results with minimal coaching time.
• 😀 Great coaching is not about how smart the coach is, but about working with dedicated, smart, and successful clients who are committed to improvement.
• 😀 The concept of 'feedforward' encourages leaders to seek input for improvement from others without judgment and to express gratitude for feedback.
• 😀 Leaders should be open to feedback and use it as an opportunity to learn and make adjustments, without promising to implement every suggestion.
• 😀 Global thinking is a critical quality for future leaders, as leadership today requires a broader, global perspective rather than a narrow, local one.
• 😀 Cross-cultural diversity is essential for modern leadership, as leaders need to understand and manage a wide range of cultural perspectives and backgrounds.
• 😀 Leaders must be technologically savvy, understanding how technology impacts their business and not avoiding technological developments in any industry.
• 😀 Building alliances and partnerships is a key leadership skill for the future, where leadership is less about top-down control and more about collaboration and cooperation.
• 😀 The leader of the future must act more as a facilitator, asking the right questions and learning from knowledge workers who may know more than the leader.
• 😀 Stakeholder capitalism is becoming more important, where leaders must consider the interests of a variety of stakeholders (customers, employees, communities, shareholders) in their decisions.

Q & A

What is the core reason behind Marshall Goldsmith's success as a coach?

Marshall Goldsmith's success as a coach is primarily attributed to working with great clients. He believes that the key to effective coaching is selecting the right clients—dedicated, smart, and capable individuals who are committed to their own improvement.

How does Marshall Goldsmith define the concept of 'feedforward'?

'Feedforward' is a process where leaders seek suggestions for improvement from others, listen without judgment, express gratitude for the feedback, and focus on actionable ideas for future improvement. It emphasizes growth through forward-thinking rather than focusing on past mistakes.

How does client selection impact the effectiveness of coaching?

Client selection is crucial to coaching effectiveness. As Marshall Goldsmith emphasizes, choosing clients who are already high-performing and motivated ensures that the coaching process will be productive. Coaching works best when the client is ready and willing to engage deeply in the improvement process.

What lesson did Alan Mulally teach Marshall Goldsmith about coaching?

Alan Mulally taught Marshall Goldsmith that the key challenge in coaching is 'customer selection'. If you select the right client, the coaching process will work regardless of how much time you spend with them. The focus should be on finding clients who are truly dedicated to improving.

What are the five key qualities that future leaders need to focus on, according to Goldsmith?

The five key qualities for future leaders are: 1) Global thinking, 2) Cross-cultural diversity, 3) Technological savvy, 4) Building alliances and partnerships, and 5) Being a facilitator who listens and empowers knowledge workers.

Why is 'global thinking' important for leaders today?

Global thinking is important because leaders must recognize that leadership is no longer limited to local or domestic markets. Leaders need to understand the interconnectedness of the global economy and think on a global scale to remain competitive and effective.

What does Marshall Goldsmith mean by 'cross-cultural diversity' in leadership?

Cross-cultural diversity refers to understanding and managing a workforce that is diverse not just in terms of gender or ethnicity, but across different global cultures. Leaders must be sensitive to and embrace these cultural differences to successfully lead in today's globalized world.

How does the shift from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism impact leadership?

The shift from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism means that leaders must consider the interests of a broader range of stakeholders, including customers, employees, communities, and shareholders. This broader responsibility ensures long-term success and sustainability for businesses.

What role does technology play in the future of leadership?

Technology plays a central role in the future of leadership because leaders need to understand how technological advancements impact their industry. While leaders don’t need to be technology experts, they must be tech-savvy enough to make informed decisions and adapt to technological changes.

How does Marshall Goldsmith describe the role of leaders as facilitators?

Leaders in the future must transition from being directive bosses to being facilitators. This means they will need to listen more, ask insightful questions, and empower their teams, especially knowledge workers who may have more expertise in certain areas than the leader themselves.