Doug Smith Training

You never know how influential you might be until you try to expand your influence. You never know when the smallest problem solving step might lead to an evolution of ever expanding and more effective steps. You might think you know, you might not. Expand it. Grow it. Get to know people and work on that problem.

When a problem is beyond your influence, build your influence.

-- doug smith

It may be a few less than 21 rules, because he does lose count, but the ones that he shares are pure gold and highly recommended for managing remote teams. It's longer than most videos we watch (just over 21 minutes) but if you manage virtual teams you will likely benefit from this advice.

Many are familiar, but I learned a few, such as:


The most important order of communication priority is: video, audio, chat, emailKeep a chat window open all the timeSet up a meeting rhythm -- a regular meeting time when everyone on the team MUST attend virtually (using a program like Zoom or GoToMeeting)Take advantage of overlapping hot zones of time -- convenient times to meet no matter what time zone a team member is inTest potential employees with short term work before hiring them for long term work (what TimeDoctor does is hire two party time team members expecting to choose the best of the two to become full time)Meet in person - a least annually schedule an all team in person meeting, and…

Do you know what your team's potential is? How about the potential of each of your team members? Potential is valuable. It tells you that you can keep going during tough times. It tells you that your capacity is wider than you imagined. Potential is fuel for success. You've got to tap into it, of course, and DO something -- but it is vastly available energy. How much energy?
If you imagine that everyone on your team has limitless potential you could be right.
I'm going with that notion -- how about you?
-- doug smith

What's your focus on coaching and where does it start?

People do respond too coaching. When asked what kind of leader someone wants, very often they will say "someone who is a good coach." We like coaching. We benefit from gentle guidance and persistent insistence on improvement.

But where does it start? With goals? With targets? Does it start with charts and plans?

Coaching doesn't start with performance; it starts with a relationship of understanding.
As a coach, work on understanding first. As someone being coached, work on understanding first. Coaching starts with understanding.

-- doug smith

Kindness may come at a cost, but that cost is covered by an endless, limitless currency.

There is no limit to love.

-- doug smith

The person you were in the past remains in the past. You are now in this moment the person you create.

-- doug smith