Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts--Becoming the Person You Want to Be Hardcover – May 19, 2015

This book has some good ideas and tools, but it lacks focus and feels forced. My impression is that Goldsmith wanted to put out another book but didn't have a way to fit his ideas together, so this reads like a series of independent--or perhaps loosely related--ideas with no central organizing structure. There is lots here that isn't exactly relevant to behavior change, he goes off on tangents to fill space, and the end sputters out like a runner trying desperately to reach the finish line (in this case, enough material for a book.. While I definitely took away some interesting and potentially helpful information, it read more like someone just wanted to have product for his seminars and workshops (which he freely admits is his passion and primary interest). Very self-congratulatory and promotional.

I'm a big fan of behavioral psychology and understanding how to mold our lives to be more productive or joyful. This ain't it. It's a business book by a business guy for business folks. No data. No insight into the workings of the human mind. Just a bunch of anecdotes, speculation and pointless diagrams.I got a 2-star value out of this book but I'm rating it 3 because I think other people will appreciate the casual, story-telling style as much as I disliked it. Self help is a weird genre weird because different authors appeal to different readers. Maybe it'll be right up your alley, but read through the reviews and make sure you know you're not getting a neuroscientist's or academic's take.

Advertising pays: I need to give a shout-out to Jim Kouzes for his posting the cover of Triggers on Facebook. Within thirty minutes of that post, I had ordered my copy!This book deserves a mark that exceeds five stars. This book informed, it educated, it impressed, it entertained, and it induced action. I am in the fourth week of assessing my progress toward six personal, behavioral goals (patience, under-controlling of situations, less judgmental/evaluative, more lovingly supportive of my wife, more at peace, and in less of a hurry). I use the charting process suggested by Marshall, and I have created a weekly scoring sheet on which my wife is to give me grade my progress.Readers might not be impressed with this process, but this is the first time that I have consciously and systematically worked toward important personal/interpersonal goal-improvement. As a licensed user of the MBTI, I have known since 1984 that I have needed to work on some of my ENFJ-behaviors that did not serve me well at times. Marshall’s coaching-in-the-book, his powerful examples of behavior change shared, and the usable resources all combine to compel a reader to take action and make personal progress, so that we might be more effective human beings.After four weeks, this writer is a more peaceful, patient person from the beginning of each day. My wife and I are having more fun. My urge to “drive the bus” all the time has been significantly reduced, and I am in less of a hurry. Marshall’s focus on progress, I think has been key: “Did I do my best to . . .?” Over time, the focus has become a habit, like a good health habit! And, why not?! Yes, I’ll regress on a variable, and I’ll “own it” and simply choose to get back on the horse the next day and go forward.Marshall gets it: He realizes that he cannot be effective unless his clients are! He is exemplary in this regard, and he relentlessly and proactively journeys toward being a better leader/coach.Marshall also models brilliantly, a client-centered/collaborative coaching style as he works with others. He asks the necessary and provocative questions that others need to face if they are to be more effective going forward.There was just one chapter that fell just a tiny bit short, for me personally. Chapter 16, “Behaving Under the Influence of Depletion”, deals with our behaviors and the outcomes of decisions made when our physical/mental/emotional energy is low. In addition to Marshall’s suggestions in this chapter, the reader might benefit from three topics that might help them and others be more personally effective: personality (introverts), mood theory, and general wellness. Introverts need to give extra time for reflection and self-care before entering their after-hours dwellings and interacting with others, even their pets. Introvert Power by Laurie Helgoe is just one book that offers practical suggestions for helping introverts be more personally/interpersonally effective. Helgoe specifically offers proactive ideas for helping deal with the current culture of interruption in our daily lives. For mood theory, The Origin of Everyday Moods by Robert Thayer provides resources and research that can make us aware on an hourly basis whether we are “tired” or “energized”. From that point, we can then determine what our next courses of action need to be to be for greater effectiveness going forward. For example, “extreme” extroverts who are tense-tired near the end of a workday are apt to say or do things that would likely not happen when filled with calm-energy. For overall wellness, Candace Pert’s book, Everything You Need to Feel Good, offers an insightful look at her personal journey regarding the successful resolution of health issues, the latest mind/body-research, and good recommendations regarding websites and authors whose contributions might be beneficial.In Triggers, Marshall Goldsmith did everything possible to make real and positive behavioral differences for his readers. He certainly made differences that I think will be both positive and lasting for me and for those with whom I interact. Thank you, sir!

I've made it to the point, after 20 plus years in the same retail business, of co-owning a company. As a person prone to dark moments and fearless angry outbursts I later regret, I have been a longtime seeker of anything that can help me better handle interactions with the people in my life, family, co-workers, employees, customers, etc. I remember, years ago thinking, if I could just gain space between the thing that pushed my buttons and my reaction I would be better off. I would cause less pain to others, I would not be so tortured with regret. This book not only spells out the patterns of trigger/behavior but literally gives you the map of how to rewire the patterns. How to open the space and choose behavior rather than drop into automatic reaction. So grateful to have found this book. Will read it until it is absolutely ingrained in my being, until it is my nature. Can't wait!

Triggers is a rather more straightforward and readable book than its clunky double-subtitled name might make you fear.It really makes three simple points.First, that changing your habits is hard. Really hard. So expect failure and expect it to require a lot of work, not just one magic trick.Second, your environment makes a huge difference. You need to create triggers that encourage the change you want and avoid triggers that hinder it. Think replacing a packet of biscuits with a bowl of fruit in your kitchen. But think much more broadly too, such as the combination of events which leads to the sort of mindset you might be trying to move away from.Third, a great way of self-enforcing change is to write out physically every evening your own answers to a series of questions selected to capture the change(s) you want. The very act of making yourself write it down enforces a clarity about how you really did and helps encourage you to do better next time.There is plenty of colour and detail in the 234 pages of the book though not really that much more of substance. That makes the book very actionable – how much extra detail would you really remember and act on? – if also a little bit of a light read.

Simple truths, often forgotten, beautifully constructed into something all of us can use. As with all things, reading solves nothing, it is action that moves us forward. The minor genius of this work is the offering of a way to do it that is engaging and achievable.

This book did nothing other than verbalise matters that I already understood. I'm a tryer - and persevered until around 40% but I'm giving up having no further time to waste on this. I had been expecting something that would improve my decision making. Alas it has nothing to offer.

Brilliant and like all of Prof Marshall Goldsmith's books I've read, I recommend them for anyone who wants to improve themselves. I had no idea how much my environment was affecting me and my life.

One of the best books on the topic I have read. It gave real insight, knowledge and depth in terms of how to create behavioural change. Unlike most books on the topic which more or less tell you what you already know or give superficial bits of advice, this is one that genuinely makes you think and want to note down and put into practice all the ideas and suggestions it gives. Highly recommended!