High Performance Leadership

When you run into obstacles are you ever tempted to blame someone? The goal is within your site, but something keeps blocking it so it must be someone's fault, right? Maybe not. And even if there is someone to blame, blaming them doesn't get you closer to your goal. Relentless action gets you there. Constant follow-up gets you there. Persistence and patience gets you there. Setbacks are not always rational and there isn't usually one thing to blame. So drop the blame. Move on with the action. Stay curious. Focus on your goal and (most importantly) the people who can and will help you achieve that goal.  Because once you've achieved your goal, blame doesn't matter, does it? -- Doug Smith

Does it ever feel like you're stuck, wandering in the wilderness? We all find ourselves in trouble sometimes, lost and a bit afraid of what might be coming. Those hard feelings are not meant to polarize us, though. Those danger signs are meant to signal that we should find help. Find the people able and willing to navigate, prod, motivate, or steer. Someone to offer a hand, a shoulder to cry on, or a brain to storm with. Help. Your wilderness is someone else's comfort zone. They have the experience, the capacity, and the willingness to help. All we have to do is ask. Ask. -- Douglas Brent Smith

Who wins when you solve a problem? Your answer to that question likely defines whether or not you've actually solved the problem. Any solution that creates a loser is likely not sustainable. It's a never-ending game. Problem solving is a game that can be played with everyone winning. That's probably the only way to really put an end to the problem. Centered leaders solve problems without creating losers. Could that take longer? Yes. Is it more likely to succeed? Yes, and yes, and yes! -- Douglas Brent Smith

It's tempting. The circumstances have changed. What seemed like a great idea is now a burden. How could anyone expect you to keep an agreement when it now is turning out poorly for you? Can't you just drop the whole thing? Centered leaders operate with integrity. They stay true to their word. The time may come when we need to renegotiate, but we do so with openness and with the sincerity of keeping our agreements if those we agreed with expect us to hold to them. There is no room for dropping in the name of convenience or breaking an agreement because it no longer suits our needs. Centered leaders keep agreements even when they are no longer convenient. That builds a reputation of reliability. That sustains a relationship of trust. That demonstrates true character. What kind of character do you want to be known for? -- Douglas Brent Smith

What are you doing for your team to develop it? Our development and our team's development is never done. There's always something new to learn. There are always skills that are changing and need updating. The work is a work in progress. Give your team the training they need. Help them to enhance their skills. Make resources available to them so that they can grow. It's better for your team members and it's better for you. Enhancing your team's skills will improve your team's performance. As a leader, that's your job! -- Douglas Brent Smith

Does your team get all the training that it needs? No matter how skilled, no matter how masterful, teams need to constantly learn. Centered leaders find ways to provide the training that their teams need so that they can continue to grow and excel. Are you doing that? People enjoy their jobs more when they have the skills to do their jobs expertly. Why not help them on that journey? -- Douglas Brent Smith

What do you have planned for today? Will you be solving a problem? Will you be working to achieve one of your major goals? Let this be the encouragement you need to get moving. Go for it! You've never been more alive than you are right now! Take charge and do something important! Won't that feel great? -- Douglas Brent Smith

Are you confident about achieving your goals? Do you feel positive about your mission? Do your team members know that? Let's not take that for granted. Let's keep our team members updated. Share that confidence. Confidence shared grows. -- for your team members, and for yourself as well! -- Douglas Brent Smith

Can you reduce the lies you tell? No offense intended. I'm not calling you a liar. What I've heard is that we've all lied. I know I've lied. I'm not proud of it one bit, and do not intend to lie anymore. Even when the truth is hard. Even when people say it might hurt their feelings. Telling the truth, with respect, with understanding, with openness, with compassion -- that's what centered leaders do. A lie spoken in kindness is still a lie.  We can do better than that. We can learn to deal with the truth. -- Douglas Brent Smith

Do your people know where you stand on matters that effect them most? Centered leaders share their truth. High performance leaders develop clarity around their core beliefs and make their values -- and standards of excellence -- well known. Your truth should not be a mystery. That does not mean that you insist on everyone agreeing precisely with your truth. You may even need to work to achieve some shared meaning on what your truth is. Centered leaders are willing to talk about it. Ask people first about their own truths, and then share your own. There are benefits to this you may not have realized before. Sharing your truth brings you confidence, openness, trust. Sharing your truth makes it easier to understand each other. Sharing a willingness to be influenced AND to seek to influence others takes the mystery out of your agenda. It helps you achieve your goals. Confidence grows from the will to confide. Share your truth with someone today. -- Douglas Brent Smith Would you...

What are you learning this week? Are you working on some core skills? Are you brushing up on another language. Maybe you're learning a new code. Centered leaders keep learning. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes work gets in the way. Keep learning. If you're hungry enough to learn, you will find a way . If your employer supports learning, grab at it every chance you get. If your employer does NOT support learning, go ahead and sponsor it yourself. The most expensive education is the one you need and fail to get. Learn. Keep learning. You don't want to evolve, right? -- Douglas Brent Smith If you're interested in bringing more learning to your organization, book our leadership workshops . Not only do they help you develop core leadership skills, they are surprisingly affordable.