Fyi for Your Improvement by Michael M. Lombardo Summary

1. FYI identifies 67 research-backed competencies that drive career success and leadership.
2. Lombardo's competency model transforms self-awareness into measurable performance improvements.
3. The book reveals 19 Career Stallers and Stoppers that derail professional growth.
4. People learn most from experience, not courses, according to FYI research.
5. FYI serves as a targeted reference guide, not a cover-to-cover read.
6. Self-awareness through 360-degree feedback accelerates competency development and leadership effectiveness.
7. The 70-20-10 learning model prioritizes on-the-job experiences over formal training.
8. Lombardo's framework links individual skill development directly to organizational business results.
9. FYI helps diagnose strengths and weaknesses across strategic, interpersonal, and operational competencies.
10. Effective leaders build vision communication, decision-making, and team-building skills using FYI.
11. The book translates 20 years of leadership research into actionable development plans.
12. FYI's coaching approach targets mission-critical skills while preventing career derailment.

About the Author

Michael M. Lombardo is the renowned co-author of FYI: For Your Improvement and a leading expert in leadership development and organizational behavior. Co-founder of Leadership Development Associates, Lombardo has dedicated his career to identifying and developing leadership competencies, with a particular emphasis on learning from experience and executive coaching.

His work in the business and professional development genre has become foundational for talent management programs worldwide. Beyond FYI, Lombardo has authored several influential titles including The Leadership Machine, The Career Architect Development Planner, and Preventing Derailment: What to Do Before It's Too Late.

His research-based methodologies have been widely adopted by major corporations and organizations globally for leadership assessment and development initiatives. FYI: For Your Improvement has reached its 6th edition and remains a cornerstone resource in executive education, with his contributions significantly shaping modern approaches to career progression and leadership training across industries.

FAQs About This Book

What is FYI: For Your Improvement by Michael M. Lombardo about?

FYI: For Your Improvement by Michael M. Lombardo is a comprehensive leadership development guide that helps professionals identify and improve key competencies for career success. The book covers 67+ competencies including strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, communication, and decision-making, providing actionable strategies for personal and professional growth. Rather than a traditional cover-to-cover read, it serves as a reference manual with self-assessments, developmental goals, and recommended follow-up materials.

Who should read FYI: For Your Improvement?

FYI: For Your Improvement is essential for leaders, managers, mentors, coaches, and anyone seeking upward career mobility. The book is particularly valuable for newly promoted leaders, business graduates entering their first role, and seasoned professionals wanting to restart their career momentum. Corporate managers frequently recommend it for employee development at all organizational levels, making it ideal for individuals committed to continuous professional growth and leadership excellence.

Is FYI: For Your Improvement by Michael M. Lombardo worth reading?

FYI: For Your Improvement is highly regarded as a must-have leadership resource, with readers calling it "good as gold" for new and seasoned leaders alike. The book provides practical, experience-based strategies for navigating workplace challenges and developing critical competencies. While some find it challenging to read cover-to-cover, its value as a reference tool for ongoing development makes it worthwhile, with many professionals using it regularly for 25+ years.

Who is Michael M. Lombardo and what is his background?

Michael M. Lombardo is a distinguished leadership development expert with decades of experience at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). He is best known for co-developing the widely adopted Leadership Architect® competency model, which has become a standard framework in talent management. Lombardo has authored several influential books that translate complex psychological concepts into practical, actionable strategies for leadership development and organizational excellence.

What is the Leadership Architect framework in FYI: For Your Improvement?

The Leadership Architect® framework is a structured competency model that forms the foundation of FYI: For Your Improvement. It identifies specific behaviors, skills, knowledge, and abilities that contribute to successful workplace performance and leadership effectiveness. The framework enables individuals to assess their current competency levels, identify development areas, and create targeted action plans for improvement across multiple dimensions of leadership and professional capability.

How do you use FYI: For Your Improvement effectively?

FYI: For Your Improvement is best used as a reference guide rather than reading it sequentially. The recommended approach is to skim the book, identify 2-3 key competencies most important for your current role or career goals, then focus deeply on those specific chapters. Readers suggest revisiting the book every few months to select new development areas, take notes, and apply the diagnostic tools and developmental strategies to real workplace situations.

What competencies does FYI: For Your Improvement cover?

FYI: For Your Improvement covers 67+ core competencies essential for leadership and professional success. These include strategic thinking, organizational awareness, politics, decision-making, vision communication, team building, adaptability, and innovation. Each competency section provides clear explanations, self-assessment tools, developmental goals, and strategies for improvement, with cross-references to related topics. The book also addresses both skill development and avoiding overuse of strengths that can become weaknesses.

How does FYI: For Your Improvement help with career development?

FYI: For Your Improvement accelerates career development by providing a systematic framework for identifying strengths and weaknesses across critical competencies. The book offers targeted strategies to develop skills required for advancement, helping professionals navigate complex workplace challenges and enhance leadership capabilities. By working through self-assessments and development plans, individuals can demonstrate measurable improvement in performance, making them stronger candidates for promotion and increased organizational responsibility.

What are the criticisms of FYI: For Your Improvement?

Some readers criticize FYI: For Your Improvement as containing "top level wishy washy advice" more suited for traditional corporate environments. The constant references to the proprietary Lominger Leadership Architect® system throughout the book can feel overly promotional and undermine the practical tips. Additionally, the book's extensive 600+ page length and dense reference format make it challenging to read cover-to-cover, with some feeling people could "live in this book and never get outside of it".

How is the 6th edition of FYI: For Your Improvement different from earlier versions?

The 6th edition of FYI: For Your Improvement is significantly more condensed than previous versions, making it more accessible while retaining comprehensive coverage of leadership competencies. Readers familiar with earlier editions note this streamlined approach as a positive change, particularly for developing leadership skills efficiently. The updated edition maintains the core Leadership Architect® framework while presenting information in a more concise format that respects busy professionals' time constraints.

Can FYI: For Your Improvement be used for coaching and mentoring?

FYI: For Your Improvement is specifically designed as a coaching and mentoring tool for managers, mentors, and feedback givers. The book provides structured frameworks to help coaches guide others through competency assessment and development planning. Many professionals use it daily for coaching conversations, performance development plans (PDPs), and team development, with features that facilitate constructive feedback and targeted skill-building discussions. Its comprehensive reference format makes it ideal for ongoing developmental relationships.

What are the main features of FYI: For Your Improvement?

FYI: For Your Improvement includes self-assessment tools, diagnostic frameworks, developmental goals, and recommended follow-up materials for each competency. The book provides insights on both developing weak areas and avoiding overuse of strengths, with cross-references connecting related topics. Each competency section offers practical strategies, real-world applications, and resources for continued learning. The format allows users to quickly locate relevant guidance for specific development needs, making it an efficient desk reference for ongoing professional growth.