doug smith training

Every once in a while I will meet someone who is content to remain out of control. They refuse to believe that they can change anything because "the culture is so bad here" or because "my boss would never go for that" or because "that's all fine and good but it wouldn't work for me." What can you say in response? "You're absolutely right. At least, as long as you think that." Then I try to avoid saying one of those favorite consultant answers, "how's that working for you?" because, clearly, it isn't. Positive leaders believe in empowerment. Positive leaders believe that regardless of opposition or culture or challenges galore, the better route to achievement takes a positive approach. Do what we can. Challenge where we need to. Support each other all the way thru. A positive leader builds a positive team - a team that collaborates, cooperates, and cares. Of course the work is hard -- that's why it's

Every big goal starts by completing some small task. -- doug smith

It's not just a goal that matters but what achieving that goal gives us emotionally. -- doug smith

If you've ever had a leader slow you down, you know how frustrating that is. Not enough resources, not enough support, even undermining your efforts. That's not leadership - that's obstruction. Leaders provide guidance. Leaders provide direction. Leaders provide training and inspiration. At some point, high performance leaders need the trust to delegate and stay out of the way. My limitations have no business slowing you down. How about yours? -- doug smith

The more agreements we create (and honor) the deeper our conversations (and relationships) become. -- doug smith

Materials: Each participant's smart phone. Process: Share with us the last ten pictures in your phone and tell us what they say about you. Each person on the team shares. Variations: Use a lower number of pictures if the team is larger than ten people. ASK: What pictures should be in there but are not? What does this say about the team? What have you learned?

Why do people get stuck in their anger? Anger feeds on itself. It's contagious. It spreads only ill feelings and seldom accomplishes value. It gets in the way. I understand where it comes from. I feel angry myself sometimes. But it does not help us most of the time. We all make mistakes. We change, we grow, we cross boundaries. We even hurt feelings. Let's let the feelings heal. Let's learn and move forward. You'll make mistakes and I'll make mistakes and the more passionate we are about what we do the more likely we are to cross those hard to see boundaries. If you can forgive my mistake I can forgive your anger. Then we can both let go and go forward. -- doug smith