doug smith training

I don't have all the answers. This isn't an absolute, reductionist formula, but it couldn't hurt. It feels like a good way to lead. Ready? Lead with the eagerness of a child and the wisdom of an elder. That's it. I thought about substituting "patience" for "wisdom". Either one (or both) will do. Stay curious. Stay patient. Lead with kindness. What do you think? -- doug smith  

Why would anyone resist solving a problem? As frustrating as that feels, there must be a reason. Even when it is counter-productive. Even when it makes no sense at all -- people will stay stuck in their problems and avoid anything that resembles a solution. Maybe they're sure it will work out on its own (it won't). Or, maybe in a tough case they unknowingly are addicted to their pain, that cycle of bringing up what hurts even though it hurts and eventually even because it hurts. It's familiar. The chemicals do their dance of doom and the darkness feels almost comforting. I'm familiar with that pattern, that rut, that doom. It wasn't judgment that pulled me out. It wasn't force. It wasn't even an intervention. It was slow, steady, patient, loving conversations.  Talk about it. Listen. Empathize.  Some people won't want you to solve a problem. It's worth finding out why. Just imagine the possibilities! -- doug smith  P.S. I'm not a therapist (altho...

  You can stop listening to someone who offends you, but what if that's what they want? Maybe instead, keep listening -- by listening we can still influence. When we stop listening, we're done. -- doug smith

I love famous quotations, but sometimes they are just wrong. They might be out of context. They might be out-dated. What once rang truth now sours with disharmony. What might seem wise could be disguised. I've learned to think it thru. What's really being said? What's really being advised? Does that make sense? Is that wise? Wisdom misinterpreted isn't helpful. What do you think? -- doug smith  

Disagreeing with someone's truth just makes you disagreeable. Better to explore the middle ground. Better to understand where they stand. Much, much better to listen. You might still decide to disagree, but then you'll understand why. -- doug smith  

The problem with perfection is that it's not sustainable. As soon as you get there, the landscape shifts. Standards change. Details emerge that switch everything up. We can get upset about that, but it won't change the inevitable. It's better to flex, to move, to dance with the waves Are your dancing shoes ready? 

Do we have enough time to completely understand everything that we need to change? Of course not. We should understand with clarity what it is that is changing, and especially those things that we cause to change.  But some change is completely new. Some change is game-changing. It's a dance on a wet floor. It's a jam session in twelve-tone jazz. It's a dish off the menu. Exciting, breathless, thrilling, risky, and sometimes scary. Changing something you don't understand will produce results you don't expect. Are you ready for the unexpected? -- doug smith  

Living with our own internal doubts is hard enough, isn't it? With careful development, endless learning, bountiful experience, and careful coaching we can learn to overcome those self-doubts. We learn to analyze without paralyzing ourselves.  Other people don't work with any limitations on the limitations they may try to impose on us. Their doubts may be deep. Their doubts may seem strong and convincing. But, their doubts are their doubts and do not control you.  No one else's doubts define your limitations. That is completely up to you. Do what you need to do to do what you want to do. Ethically, morally, compassionately, courageously, creatively, and clearly.  -- doug smith

It's hard work. Most people are not willing to put in that work. Waiting for miracles or hoping to luck into achieving your goals might sound great for a video spin as a win but usually does not pay off -- it doesn't work unless YOU do. Goals are not meant for lazy people. Goals are for people willing to work in order to get what they want. People like you, right? -- doug smith  

When you decide you'd like to have something, or achieve something, how do you begin? It's easier to get what you want when you first set a goal. Make it clear, make it appealing, make it possible...and then, make it happen. -- doug smith  

So many times I have allowed doubt to get in my way. While it's wise to pay attention to risks and to create plans for overcoming obstacles, doubt is often an unnecessary encumbrance. It holds back without giving. It hinders without helping. When we develop the skills we need to achieve our goals, doubt is just annoying. Doubt doesn't diminish your ability unless you let it. Hear the doubt, then do what is necessary. Figure it out, then move past the doubt. -- doug smith  

Maybe that road is speckled with potholes. Maybe that highway is heavy with tolls. How much do you want to go where you need to go? You can handle any rough road if you're eager enough to reach your destination. -- doug smith

If it feels like other people are deciding things for you, take comfort in the fact that it has always been the case -- always -- that some people will do their best to decide everything for you. Whether you allow that or not is up to you. Whether you lead ahead or follow (and fall) behind is also up to you.  This time is your time -- embrace it completely. -- doug smith "The present time has one advantage over every other -- it is our own" -- Charles Caleb Colton Source

The word of the day is love. The word of the month is love. The word of your life is love. Isn't that the best word -- and advice -- ever? -- doug smith  

Who do you call on a project when you need help? Do you have a team of people you rely on? Or, is every project a struggle to find help? Maybe we should be constantly looking for help. Teaming up. Partnering up. What if we spent some of our strategic planning time in finding collaborators? Anyone could be a collaborator.  They could be working in another department or process. They might even be in a different organization. You might not have even met yet. Still, the potential is there. Anyone could be a collaborator and sometimes we just need to ask. "Hey, I've got this great project I'm working on. Can I tell you about it?' If it really IS a great project, why wouldn't they want to hear all about it? And then, if they''re right for the project, your team could be about to grow. -- doug smith

What makes you happy the most? I've heard people say money, or fame, or traveling, or competition, or exercise...whatever makes you happy is good, right? But what makes you happy the most? (Pause here to reflect...) Being yourself. Right? Being able to be WHO you are WHEN you want, without adjusting to placate or get paid, isn't that the best? It still takes courage to be who you are once you know who that is. Ah yes, reason number 200 why courage is so important to a leader. But what if we change? Of course! Be who you are and when you change, be the new you.  Just don't let anyone else tell you who you are. -- doug smith

  Some goals aim for achievements, and some goals establish healthy habits that contribute to achievements. Both contribute to achieving your goals and both are essential. To achieve your goals, equip yourself for success. -- doug smith Action Plan Look now at your number one goal and identify at least one much-needed but not yet supplied resource. Figure out how to get that and your success chances rise.

As a sports fan I hate it when a favorite team member leaves the team. I do remember when an athlete would spend an entire career with one team. They felt like part of the family. Their bright moments seemed to shine in our memories like common threads of a larger family. Today that is rare. Players come and go often before we get to know them or appreciate their gifts. It feels the same in the working world. People come and go and we never hear from them again. The knowledge they acquired is gone from the team. The spirit they stirred is mixed up with forgotten signals from the past. But, have you ever had a team member leave and then return? It's high risk of course. They do not return as the same person they were before they left. There are new bruises, new scars, and even new skills we hadn't seen from them before. One of the risks is that in returning they soon realize why it was that they left in the first place. It's even possible that things did not get better, and ...

There's nothing quite like a deadline to bring out the creativity in you. -- doug smith  

All goals lead somewhere. Do yours lead you where you want to go? No matter what anyone else says, you're the one who is in charge and in control of your goals. -- doug smith  

Advice can be tricky. Have you ever heard advice that says "forget the past" or "release what was"? That could be helpful. That might be good therapy sometimes. And, sometimes it is a big mistake. The more we pretend the past doesn't matter the more likely it is to haunt us. We cannot change the past -- true. Should we ignore it? Or better yet, should we learn from it? -- doug smith Reflection: What does the image of that broken bridge remind you of in your past?  Are you finished dealing with that part of your past? What did you learn?

A moment of doubt need not last. Your focus is under your control. -- doug smith

Have you ever been absolutely convinced of something, so certain that you would defend it or explain it or insist on it to anyone -- only to later discover that it was wrong? I have, and it doesn't feel great, does it? We can all fall into a habit of believing our beliefs so strongly that there's no room for learning. What feels most comfortable seems most true. Only, not always. Certainty is no measure of truth. No matter how true something seems, check for evidence. -- doug smith Call to Action: Write down one sentence on something that you are absolutely certain about. Now, write down three pieces of evidence for that certainty. What do you think?

What's next?  Everyday there is some new challenge and everyday there are multiple ways to handle each challenge. People are waiting for answers without even understanding the questions. Where does that leave you? The best we can ever do is to make things better. Start with one thing at a time and grow. I don't do nearly enough of this, but I'm willing to ramp it up. How about you? Lead the way to something better and people will follow you.  -- doug smith Call to Action: Make a list (a very short list!) of problems you'd like solved or projects you'd like to do. Prioritize the list. Start working on number one. Do something.

How secret is that secret? Secrets are told when people think that no one is listening. Some one is always listening. That's how secrets get out.  -- doug smith 

I am not good at celebrating, and yet celebrating is motivational. Because of that, I need to PLAN to celebrate or it will pass me right by. That also means that in order to see the plan to celebrate thru, there must be something worth celebrating, which means doing the work to achieve the goal. Your goal is easier to achieve when you make energizing progress and then celebrate it. It's not either or -- it's both and: progress (doing the work) and celebration (rewarding yourself and others for that success.) What do you think? --  doug smith  

It's amazing how many problems stop being problems once we are centered and calm. -- doug smith 

How important is that goal, really? How deeply do you believe in the importance of that goal? It's easy, but silly, for us to fool ourselves. Either the goal REALLY matters or it does not. Design a plan to achieve your goal that is so persuasive you won't be tempted to ignore it. Then do it. Act relentlessly on your plan. -- doug smith  

Take your problems seriously, then take them away. Find out what it is about the problem that is standing in your way. What is it that you really want? What is your goal? Once you convert your problem statement to a goal you've opened the door to a thousand new possibilities. Your answer is in there. -- doug smith  

Do you enjoy success? If that seems like a silly question (Of COURSE I enjoy success!) think about it from another perspective.  Sometimes we can taper down our enjoyment and appreciation of something because we know it's not perfect yet, and how can we be happy if it's not perfect? I do that somethings. It's not helpful. OF COURSE it's not perfect: nothing else and nothing ever will be. There are no perfect people, processes, performances, or plan. If we wait for perfection, we'll just keep waiting (and probably without gaining ground...) Let's do both. Let's enjoy our current level of success and achievement while also working to improve it. Performance must constantly improve, AND we can enjoy our exiting improvements. -- doug smith

If you usually hit your goal you'll usually hit your goal. To do that, to usually hit your goal, get into the habit of hitting your goal. Questions to ask to prepare yourself for achieving your goal include: Do you know why you want to achieve your goal? Do you have everything you need to achieve your goal? How committed are you to achieving your goal? Who do you need help from in order to achieve your goal? What might get in the way of achieving your goal? How will you break your goal down into smaller pieces? How will you measure your progress and results? What will it give you to achieve your goal? We're all so busy. It that goal isn't important enough to answer those questions clearly then maybe it's not important enough to achieve. Pause, breathe, ask, then act. -- doug smith  

Find out what you want and then don't give up on it. Once you are sure, keep knocking on the door. -- doug smith 

How do you react when you meet someone new? They're not new to the world, of course, just to you but that's new enough, isn't it? What if they disagree with you? What if you're on different sides of an issue? What if you don't know? People desire respect. When respect is lacking, we know it right away, don't we? And when we withhold our own respect it stands to reason that others know that right away, too. But if we start with respect -- if we start with the idea that every person we meet has value -- it becomes easier to interact meaningfully and maybe even share common ground. When we connect with respect we dramatically increase our chances of communicating effectively. I'll do my best to practice that today -- how about you? -- doug smith  

  Mourn a loss a little while but not so long that you miss the next opportunity. -- doug smith

  Most leaders can think of team members they'd love to have on their team, but don't. New skill sets, balanced personalities, brilliant innovations...anything more than what we have to begin with. But, what we have to begin with is where we need to begin. A team is build from the pieces you have to start with, not the pieces you wish you had. That's good news because: now you are ready to go. -- doug smith

When a team member leaves your team, whatever the circumstances, do they ever return? Does your team have the ability to learn from the past and rebuild trust in someone who once found it necessary to go somewhere else? Or, do you hold the line on absolutely no returning? It can be awkward to try to return, only to be rebuffed. Things have changed, dynamics have shifted, goals have been revised, maybe even the missed has pivoted. Wherever things are, they are not where you left them. If there is a case for welcoming former team members back, it includes factors like this: Much of the necessary training is already done You have familiarity that helps re-establish trust Once considered valuable enough to be part of the team, maybe that value is still there and could have even grown Reconnecting feels good But it's worth considering the risks as well: Once people leave, you know they might leave again The new status levels have likely lowered any possible social capital the former tea...

The most powerful team building tool is talk. Talk with each team member and talk together as a team. Communication is the most powerful skill to practice.  -- doug smith

Don't panic -- prepare constantly.  Improvise. Move. Everything is moving so leaders cannot stand still. -- doug smith

What leaders get done is their record; how they get things done becomes their reputation. -- doug smith  

There are so many parts of my past that I would love to fix. Thinking about them doesn't help and won't fix them. The best I can do is to reflect on the lessons learned and do better next time. How about you? If we could fix the last we'd break it in brand new ways.  The price of being imperfect is a glorious one: constant learning. That's not so bad after all. -- doug smith  

That extra tough problem might need multiple solutions -- in fact, its probably does. -- doug smith  

Working together is not over-rated. Even the sharpest of minds miss some important details. Even the strongest of leaders needs a team to lead.  Truly collaborating means accepting that sometimes your point of view is flawed, and is almost always incomplete. Staying open to the ideas of others, while working in the same direction on a unified mission, creates a path for success.  The art of leadership benefits from collaboration. -- doug smith

Have you ever felt like a prisoner to your own emotions? The feelings can be so strong that they flood your being with an almost paralysis. I have found myself wandering away from a situation because my emotions were pushing so hard, even though a better choice would have been to stay, get those emotions under control, breathe, and choose. Once a bad emotion has sent you its warning, it's best to send it on its way. Emotions can drive us, but don't need to. Feel it, pause, and step away. Keep all of your choices open. -- doug smith

Problems need not prevent positive outcomes. It's what we do with them that matters. -- doug smith  

  The art of leadership includes a palette of patience, passion, and persistence. That will likely take practice, too. -- doug smith

  Listen to your team and count how many times they say "we" compared to "me". Develop and promote those who say "we" and coach those who get stuck on "me" to focus more on "we". -- doug smith

Broken teams lead to broken teams. Tend to your team because there's much at stake. -- doug smith

What's the best way for a leader to make their job easier? Make sure your team is well trained. Leaders can't possibly manage all the dynamics on a team -- which is why they should train their team members to manage them. And while you're at it, why not train your team to manage everything? Then, once you have, you can truly lead. -- doug smith  

  It's frustrating to be misunderstood. It is well worth working on our communication skills in order to minimize misunderstandings because they lead to hardships and hard feelings.  But, do you know some one who just seems to always misunderstand your message, or your intention? It's almost as if they are missing the point on purpose. They probably are not -- there's just some filter in the way. Some people will misunderstand you no matter how clearly you speak. Reframe, rephrase, re-try...it's not worth letting the misunderstanding stand. -- doug smith

Goals have the power to change us, to form us, to set us up for success -- or less. But, they should serve more than your own intentions. Great goals also serve others. Make sure that your goals are noble because they will direct your behavior. And, you do want to be considered noble, don't you? -- doug smith  

Big goals need little goals to build momentum. If you get stuck, find a piece to work on. Break those big goals down. Keep moving. There's always something to be done on any goal that matters. -- doug smith  

You could rely on luck. You could depend on inheritance. Maybe you could fake it until you make it. All of those courses of action are unreliable. As an old friend used to say about buying lottery tickets: "It's for people who think that the answer is outside of themselves." To be the best work harder than the rest. That's the only secret formula you need. -- doug smith  

  "My crystal ball is broken and all the snow has dried up..." says my friend Linda whenever someone expects her to read their mind or tell the future. The information is not available. We can spend a lot of time looking for shortcuts. What passes for an insight could be instead a slight. With all the tools and software we have available we still do not have workable crystal balls.  My job might be easier if I had a crystal ball, but if I did have a crystal ball then I wouldn't be needed. Worth considering? Let's not fear the future. Let's do the work that's right in front of us while keeping sight of our mission. -- doug smith

Build the connections that strengthen your team and release the ones that tether your team to trouble. What we hold tight might not be what we need now. Deliberate connection just might take your full attention. -- doug smith  

Understanding your limitations is both humbling and liberating. -- doug smith  

How are you at taking advice? Do you respond quickly and decisively when someone offers you sound and well considered advice? Do you respond favorably to consultations? To tell the truth, I'm not so good at it. As a recovering know-it-all I struggle to consider an idea that wasn't my own. I'm better at it than before (that's the recovering part) and yet sometimes I just resist. It's good to take good advice. Sometimes, though that good advice has an expiration date. What makes sense today may not make sense a year from now, or two years from now. Once we move toward taking good advice we still have the duty of due diligence to watch out for change, to stay alert for expiration. Because once we have bought in, it feels like a mistake to let go. But, sometimes we do need to let go. What advice are your holding onto that does not make sense today? -- doug smith  

Thriving leaders thrive as their teams thrive. It's a partnership. It's a deal. It takes constant support and service to sustain a high performance team. Thriving leaders recruit with the enthusiasm they show for their team. People can tell when your team is cohesive, cooperative, and collaborative and people crave that for themselves. Create and support a team that supports each other and others will rally to the cause. You have no weak links. You have no poor performers. You have no superstars. You do have team members who need your guidance and support. That's the role of a leader. -- doug smith