My team just does not follow me.

That is what Victoria (name changed), a senior executive told me in our first coaching session.

She had the title. The experience. The track record. But when she spoke, people nodded politely and then did their own thing.

She thought it was a motivation problem. Or that she needed to be more assertive.

But when we dug into the 360 feedback, the real story emerged.

Victoria's colleagues said things like: "She never lets anyone finish a sentence." And: "Every idea I bring, she finds something wrong with it."

I showed her Marshall Goldsmith's 20 habits that hold successful people back.

→ I have added a checklist in the comments so you can download and reflect on it yourself→

She immediately recognised herself in three of them:

Number 2: Adding too much value.

Number 5: Starting with No or But.

Number 16: Not listening. At all.

Victoria realised she was not empowering. She was overpowering. And people had stopped bringing her their best thinking.

Once she saw it, she needed some time...

Then she started asking more questions. She let others finish. She resisted the urge to "improve" every idea.

Some months later the change was visible, her team was not just following her. They were actively contributing, challenging, and taking ownership.

Which of the 20 habits are getting in your way?

See the comments for the link to checklist. 👇

PS: Name and minor details are changed due to privacy. The story is true.

#change #habits

📌 Find 20 habits you should stop doing now here: 20 HABITS