doug smith training

People make mistakes. High performance leaders and their teams find ways to learn from those mistakes AND to let go of the negative energy that mistakes can produce. Who needs the side-effects? What use is the guilt? High performance leaders inquire, listen, stay curious, and learn. There are likely more emotions and facts in play than you realize. By taking time to stay curious and learn, it's easier to understand what happened and take steps to do better the next time. And isn't that what we want? To do better the next time! Patience empowers forgiveness. Take a breathe. Practice patience. -- doug smith

It's frustrating to misunderstand a problem, or to deal with someone you are certain has misunderstood the problem. In that situation, influencing clarity is more difficult, and finding a solution stays clouded in ignorance. The most troubling problems are rooted in ignorance. You know that feeling that you're dealing with someone who just doesn't know what's going on? The frustration it causes, the distortion it encourages, the ignorance it perpetuates while frustration mounts? What if you're that person, and you don't even know it? The most troubling problems are rooted in ignorance, and sometimes we're the ones who do not know. Centered problem solvers make room for that possibility - the chance that they do not know what they do not know. It's not the solution, but it's a start. -- doug smith

A problem might be showing us a new way to see a situation. It could be discordant without being destructive. Some things looks problematic because they're difficult, or unexpected. Centered problem solvers take the time to breathe and to view the problem objectively. What's really going on? How much is situation and how much is perspective. Inquire into what is going on. You might be surprised. -- doug smith

How do you help yourself? Help other people. When we help other people we enhance our own self-esteem. When we do right for others we build relationship equity. And, most of all, when we help others we create a habit of service that makes the world a better place. Serve first, and see what happens. It's a habit worth developing. To help yourself the most, start with goals that help other people. -- doug smith Leadership Call to Action: Check your top three goals. How do they help other people? Which one helps people the most? What if you gave that goal your first focus today?

What happens if a leader goes too fast for the team? Does it do any good to leave the team behind? High performance leaders remember that they are ahead of their team. It may take a minute for them to catch up. It may take some convincing to get everyone on board. You might need to slow down to gather momentum. Otherwise a leader could miss something important. Travel too fast and you'll see too little. Stop. Breathe. Maintain your balance. Center yourself and your team. You'll see (and do) so much more. -- doug smith

Anyone who knows me well knows that in addition to facilitating leadership workshops and helping people solve problems and achieve their goals, I am also a creative artist enthusiastic about improv. If you're in or near Bucks County, PA, here is a great chance to explore and practice improv. Sign up  here

When you are solving a problem, do you consider the impact your solution will have on other people? I've seen leaders who impose solutions on their teams that make the job worse, not better. While some degree of resistance to any solution is natural, your problem has a much better chance of staying solved if the solution you pick is supported by your team. Does your solution make the job easier? Does your solution make your customers happier? Is your solution elegant and simple and yet robust enough to solve the problem? The purpose of problem solving is to make life better for you AND for others. Centered problem solvers consider the needs of everyone impacted by the problem AND by the solution. Don't let your solution damage your solution. Change management is part of your task. Centered problem solvers do the whole job. Do the whole job. -- doug smith Leadership Call to Action: Before implementing the next solution you come to, check with the people who