We’ve all heard the expression, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” However, executive coach Marshall Goldsmith makes a living doing that very thing. He specializes in adult behavioral change—no easy task—and he reveals his very successful methods in his latest book, Triggers.
This book is all about recognizing the power of our environment in triggering undesirable behavior, particularly in our interpersonal interactions, and then learning to change our response to these environmental triggers. This isn’t about quitting bad habits, such as smoking or cussing as much as it’s about being a better leader and a better person. Goldsmith’s focus is on our interactions with people. Is there anything more important than our relationships? Is there anything more likely to cause us to be the worst versions of ourselves than our relationships? It is the focus on people that makes this book so helpful—and so important.
The first half of the book is largely dedicated to re-framing our view of our environment. The second half of the book focuses on tried and true methods for altering our response to triggers and even causing our environment to work for us. The methods seem almost too simple, but they are time-tested and proven to work in bringing about real change.
Goldsmith’s focus on the power of the right structure in our lives has the potential to be truly life-altering to so many. His considerable experience in helping people change gives him a wealth of real life examples to draw from and his writing style is direct, funny, and encouraging all at once. Here is a man who is good at what he does.
Goldsmith’s goal is to help leaders be more aware of their environment and engaged in their relationships. Who doesn’t need more of that? I have a hard time imagining this book not being at least somewhat helpful to every reader, and it has the potential to bring real, turning-point-level change to many. Grab a copy of this book; I highly recommend it to every leader and every person who has a desire to change for the better.
Please Note: This book was gifted as a part of the Blogging for Books Reviewers Program in exchange for my unbiased review of this work. This has in no way influenced my opinion or review of this work.