The number 1 greatest lesson for coaches

This article is part of the Contemporary leadership series

Most leaders today accept that an important part of their role is coaching others. As someone who has devoted his career to coaching executives, I have strong views on the subject. Based on my own experiences I believe the greatest lesson for any coach, outstanding or otherwise, is to overcome our own ego. Failure to keep our egos in check almost always leads to disaster.

In November 2015 Dr. Marshall Goldsmith was recognized as the #1 Leadership Thinker in the World and the top 5 Management Thinker at the Thinkers50 Award Ceremony in London. He was also selected as the #1 Executive Coach in the World by GlobalGurus.org, and one of the 10 Most Influential Management Thinkers in the World by Thinkers50 in both 2011 and 2013. In 2011 he was chosen as the World's Most Influential Leadership Thinker. Marshall was the highest rated executive coach on the Thinkers50 List in both 2011 and 2013. What Got You Here Won't Get You There was listed as a top ten business bestseller for 2013 by INC Magazine / 800 CEO Read (for the seventh consecutive year). Marshall's exciting new research on engagement is published in his newest book Triggers (Crown, 2015).