Tom DeLong Interview - Flying without a net

Tom DeLong, Harvard Business School professor and author of Flying Without a Net: Turn Fear of Change into Fuel for Success, is interviewed on this show. The blog post is called "The Hidden Demons of HIgh Achievers." He speaks about how high achieving people have a range of particular problems -- including the need to compare yourself with others, the need to compete, the lack of ability to separate the important from the urgent. His piece of advice here: very specific agendas. On the Harvard Business School website, the book is hyped with the following text:

Confronted by omnipresent threats of job loss and change, even the brightest among us are anxious. In response, we're hunkering down, blocking ourselves from new challenges. This response hurts us and our organizations, but we fear making ourselves even more vulnerable by committing mistakes while learning something new. In "Flying Without a Net," Thomas DeLong explains how to draw strength from vulnerability. First, understand the forces that escalate anxiety in high achievers and the unproductive behaviors you turn to for relief. Then adopt practices that give you the courage to "do the right things poorly" before "doing the right things well." Drawing on his extensive research and consulting work, DeLong lays out: (1) Roots of high achievers' anxiety: fear of being wrong and lack of a sense of purpose, and a craving for human connection, (2) Destructive behaviors we adopt to relieve our anxiety: busyness, comparing ourselves to others, and blaming others for our frustrations, (3) Behaviors we must adopt to gain strength from vulnerability: putting the past behind us and seeking honest feedback. Packed with practical advice and inspiring stories, "Flying Without a Net" is an invaluable resource for all leaders seeking to thrive in this Age of Anxiety.