How Women Rise

Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back From Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith

November 29, 2024

What if the biggest obstacle to your success was a habit you didn’t even realize you had?

In How Women Rise, Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith uncover 12 habits that hold professionals back from advancing in their careers. These habits, often praised early in a career, can become barriers to reaching higher levels of success.

SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
The Habits That Hold Us Back

1️⃣ Perfectionism Isn’t a Strength: Striving for flawlessness can delay progress and create unnecessary stress. Helgesen and Goldsmith argue that focusing on excellence, not perfection, allows you to move forward faster and more effectively.

2️⃣ Learn to Self-Promote: Many professionals assume their work will speak for itself, but visibility is essential for career growth. The authors emphasize the importance of sharing your accomplishments confidently without feeling boastful.

3️⃣ Stop Overvaluing Hard Work: Being the hardest worker in the room doesn’t always lead to recognition or promotion. Helgesen and Goldsmith advise prioritizing strategic impact over endless effort to advance more effectively.

INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
Letting Go of the Need to Always Say Yes

One leader in the book shares how her career growth was hindered by saying "yes" to every request, spreading herself too thin. After learning to set boundaries and focus on high-impact projects, she not only achieved better results but also earned more respect from her peers. This shift in mindset helped her rise to a senior leadership position.

A QUOTE TO REMEMBER
Breaking Barriers, Building Growth

“True growth begins when you recognize the habits that hold you back and commit to change.”

Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith, How Women Rise

BOOK FACTS
How Women Rise

  • Publication date: March 7, 2019

  • Print length: 256 pages

  • Listening length: 7:07

  • Ratings: 4.6 Amazon, 4.1 Goodreads

ON LEADERSHIP PODCAST
The Disease to Please

DID YOU KNOW?
The Impact of Breaking Limiting Habits

  • Visibility Drives Promotions: Research shows that professionals who self-advocate and share their achievements are 30% more likely to be promoted. (Harvard Business Review)

  • Perfectionism Can Hold You Back: A study found that 25% of professionals missed deadlines or opportunities because they were stuck refining details unnecessarily. (Journal of Applied Psychology)

  • Strategic Effort Yields Results: High performers who focus on impact rather than hours worked are 20% more likely to be recognized as leaders. (McKinsey & Company)

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