Ever have those moments where you have to hold everything in to keep your cool?

I do.

However, I am getting better at keeping my cool through those conversations. Much better than I used to be able to in the past. For anyone struggling with that issue, I highly recommend reading the following book:

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This book came into my life at the perfect time. Right around this time last year, I was frustrated with my career path and felt like I was not going in the direction that I needed to. The book breaks down the fact that many successful people in this world do not want to grow and do not want to learn. The reason why they don’t want to grow and learn is a simple one: they are already successful, why change? The title of the book comes from that sentiment. What got you to success here, won’t get you to (continued) success there (in the future). Get it? The methods that helped you reach the level of success where you are, won’t get you to where you want to be. It’s like that Albert Einstein quote:

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

My issue, was that I was trying to help people and contribute ideas to superiors who already had the answers and I did not want to become a leader who had no desire to learn. Everyone, do know that in order to be an effective and respected leader, you have to be open to listen and learn. A leader who isn’t, is a leader who is not effective, respected or liked. This is often the case in many organizations big and small. A big title doesn’t mean that you can’t listen and respect those beneath you. A big title doesn’t mean that you don’t show respect to elders in an organization. A big title is just a big title. The best part about the book is that the author, Marshall Goldsmith, actually goes into organizations and helps CEOs and C-level executives fix problems that are hindering their success. I learned tons about myself and how to determine when and where to contribute my expertise.  Honestly, this book is one to reread again and again. As I’m looking at it in my lap, I realize that I need a refresher course the book is worth every penny.

About the title of this post: sometimes the best thing to dissolve a tense situation is to just forget the person. What I mean is that I don’t dwell on conversations with individuals who don’t listen. I used to do that. They used to frustrate me. But they aren’t really worth worrying about. It doesn’t take much time to really see how a person accepts feedback. They openly reject it, they are argumentative and sometimes they steal your ideas and credit them as their own to impress others. Trust me, it has happened in the past. Don’t let it frustrate you, that’s just how jobs work! Observe and learn.

My advice to you: Read the book, it’s a great way to discover more about yourself and your professional presence. Have you read anything about leadership and business that changed your perspective for the better? Share it with me, I’m open to learning!