doug smith training

Have you ever had a great idea and then nothing came of it? That's happened with me more times than I'd like to admit. Thinking, generating, ruminating, I can turn an idea around in my head until both of us are dizzy. But so what? Until I DO something, that idea sits idle. Our best ideas don't mean much until we put them into action. When you get a great idea: do something! Put your ideas into action. That's how you get things done. -- doug smith  

This is my favorite time of year. The weather is cool, but not cold. The air is crisp, but not bold. Colors are changing all around and (gasp!) pumpkin spice is widely available. What's your favorite time of year?  It's all available there for you to make each season as productive as possible. You are capable of even greater things than you've already accomplished. You are perfectly poised to lead the next great innovation, cure, or creation. Let the crisp autumn air boost you into motion. It's time to get stuff done! Create a great day, no matter what comes your way! -- doug smith

Working collaboratively to solve a problem does take longer but helps us avoid our hard-wired and burdensome bias for broken answers. Working together we see might slow down the process but we extend the positive results. -- doug smith   

We never run out of ideas on how to create solutions to a problem, but we do have to stop long enough to try one to see if it works. Generate > Decide > Deploy Put those great ideas in motion! -- doug smith

It's hard to convince someone that their solution to a problem doesn't work, until it doesn't work. We cling to our idea. Our experience clarifies our expectations.  When I'm trying to influence someone to consider the ramifications of their ideas, I've learned to first validate the idea (identify whatever is useful about it or appealing) before guiding them thru any analysis of the idea. Seeing the truth can be tough enough, without adding emotional resistance to the mix. It's easier for someone to convince themselves. Convincing them is hard. Let them convince themselves. -- doug smith  

We make mistakes. Your team makes mistakes. You make mistakes. We are not perfect and the best we can do is to do the best we can do. That's more than lip-service. That's more than excuses. Doing the best we can do leaves no effort ignored when the customer's expectations are on the line. When we have the opportunity to truly do our best, it takes more effort, but the customer can feel your sincerity, and feel your work. The goal is not perfection, but what if it felt like perfection to your customer? -- doug smith

Have you ever been in a meeting, in a conference room with other people, but with some people joining the meeting virtually? It's a blend. It's a mix. It feels efficient. But then someone in the conference room rolls their eyes, and the virtual team members don't see it. Or do they? The dynamics are tough enough to handle without mixing the media. Keep people together, even when they are apart.  If anyone in your meeting is meeting virtually, everyone should be meeting virtually. Stay on the same page. Play fair. Level the playing field. You'll appreciate the improved communication. -- doug smith

How does it feel when someone asks you a question that doesn't really feel like a question? It feels instead like their mind is made up, or that they are trying to convince you of something. That's not much of a question, is it? Unless you ask a question with curiosity it isn't really a question. We all do it: ask questions we think we know the answer to. That perception acts like a little door that keeps out insights. It keeps out the ability to learn. Instead, we can't fake it: we must remain curious. When we are open to whatever answer another person offers us, and stay curious, we get better and more useful answers. When you ask a question with curiosity, it's a genuine question.  Ask real questions. -- doug smith Today's Leadership Affirmations  When I stay curious I learn much more I can be the best listener of the day for anyone who talks with me today My curiosity is intense, authentic, and powerful

Remember, finding the path to perfection does not mean that you'll achieve it. Take the journey anyway. We're all on the path to perfection, but sometimes we just get lost. Find your way back. Lead your team back. Keep moving. -- doug smith

Find the benefit to solving a problem and you're likely to solve it faster. Go for the gold, before your problem gets old. -- doug smith

How does it feel when you miss a goal? It's not fun. It can be discouraging. When it happens to me I have to ask myself what went wrong. Didn't I work hard enough? Was my plan flawed? Even though I do tend to achieve most of my goals, when I miss it hurts.  Feel the hurt. Learn the lesson. Move forward. That's what I tell myself. An unachieved goal need not break you. There are new goals ahead. Keep Going! -- doug smith 

Leadership is service. No matter how strongly you hold a goal, no matter how driven you are to succeed, the purpose of leading is to help. The essential question is "how can I help?" It gets tough when there are deadlines, meetings, deliverables ahead of you. Interruptions feel unproductive. Helping others feels disruptive. Still, however busy we are, the essential question remains "how can I help?" Serving others may not feel productive until you're the one who needs the help. -- doug smith