High Performance Leadership

Who do you rely on the most? I will admit that there are days when I am tempted to say "my computer." That's a mistake. It's people we rely on the most. Who is most reliable in your life? Who do you talk to every day? I've come to realize that I do need to talk with more people every day. It takes contact. It takes reaching out. Building relationships is not a little thing, it's more like a lot of little things. Recurring conversations add to the relationships we build. Spending time together adds to the relationships we build. Remembering birthdays, holidays, and special times is important, too. The key is in the conversation. How we communicate is so often who we are. As a leader, building your team takes building your relationships. A strong team is built on durable, reliable relationships. I will strive to communicate to more people more often in the coming days, weeks, month, and year. How about you? -- Doug Smith

Have you noticed how much our results depends on our relationships? We might be able to achieve short term results on our own, but long time, sustained results thrive when relationships are strong. That doesn't come naturally to all of us, but it needs to come. If we need to work on it, that's what we need to do. People care more about your results when they care more about you as a person. I'm trying to keep that in mind whenever I'm tempted to work heads down without consulting others. How bout you? -- Doug Smith

Have you ever heard anyone say "It's all an inside job" meaning that the accomplishment came about largely due to relationships. Who knew who. Favors traded. Favors called. But think about it. How else do things get done? We work best with those we know best. It speeds things up. It helps get to the point and focus on the goal. I'm not saying that it makes sense to pick unqualified people for a job simply because we know them. But even qualified people need guidance. Even qualified people need focus. It's all an inside job. Why not make peace with that and work on those relationships that lead to more, and better work? -- Doug Smith

How well do you know the people on your team? Do you know what motivates each person? What their interests are? How happy they are at home? What they want to do when they grow up? Work is more than work. Work is also relationships. Successful supervisors build strong relationships with their team. Some even socialize with them. You may not need to socialize outside of the workplace with your team members, but it does help their performance (and your results) when you know a lot about them. When you show that you care. Supervisors succeed by getting to know their people. What can you do today to get to know your people a little more? -- Douglas Brent Smith

Is your partner perfect? Are you? I've made enough mistakes in my life and in my relationships to know that the search for perfection is illusive at best and at worst, frustrating. There are no perfect people out there waiting for us, to fall in love with us, to fix us, to bring us what we need, to fulfill our dreams. But that's OK. In fact, that's wonderful. We don't need a perfect person in order to create love. Love creates the perfect person. -- Douglas Brent Smith

If your next step to success is too big, ask for help.  Too many times we stop short of a goal or shy away from a  plan because it seems too big. It is easy to get  overwhelmed. But that doesn't have to be the  end of the  line .  The next time you feel yourself pulling back because you  think it's all too much, look around and take inventory of  your relationship resources. Who do you know who can help?