High Performance Leadership

The art of leadership is understanding the opposition. -- doug smith  

  I wouldn't expect everyone to be an artist any more than I would expect everyone to be a plumber. But we all need water, and we all need art. Find the art in leadership, and your leadership strength will grow. -- doug smith

The art of leadership is combining tough and tender in the same breath. -- doug smith

The art of leadership is mobilizing commitment to a cause that would otherwise intimidate. -- Doug Smith

Four types / Four strengths Since about three-quarters of the world sees things differently than you, doesn't it make sense to stay curious about their views? Three-quarters? Where does that come from? If you've ever taken a personality quiz, chances are that it plotted your personality in one of four types. Some use colors, some use words, some even use animals, but you get the picture. At one fairly simple level we subdivide into one of four types. If you fit one of the types, that means that three other types are different. Three-quarters of the world. While it might seem like a simplification, time after time it holds true. And whether it's three-quarters or some other portion, it does make sense that there are different types and different views out there. Without staying curious we miss the possibilities. When our minds are always made up -- based on our own sketchy and incomplete view of the universe -- we can miss massive opportunities. We can stay bli...

Do you spend most of your time on strategic issues or tactical tasks? The common thought on leadership is that the higher you go in an organization the more you should focus on strategic things and the less you should spend on tactical tasks. That makes sense. And yet, is it the whole picture? Wherever you stand as a leader, your team members look to you for help and support in both the mission AND in their individual goals. So yes, focus on the strategic aspects of communicating your mission. Remember also that your people may need help on their goals - and you are likely the best source of that help. The art of leadership is keeping a team focused on its mission while also helping each member with individual goals. Are you ready for that? Are you doing that? -- Doug Smith Front Range Leadership: Training Supervisors for Success  doug smith training: how to achieve your project goals

Have you given it much thought lately? What are you doing to develop as a leader? Are you working on your skills? Are you building relationships? Have you found new ways to exercise, practice and develop your clarity, courage, creativity and compassion? The art of leadership requires constant development. Things you could do: - take a teleclass - sign up for a workshop - take on a new project - build an ad hoc team to solve a problem - get coaching to achieve your goals - mentor another leader - find a mentor - read more about leadership ... the list is filled with wonderful potential. What will you learn today? -- Douglas Brent Smith  

What stands in your way? What prevents you from achieving your goals? The bigger your goal, the more likely that obstacles will spring up. Sometimes they are very real and very formidable. At other times they simply look formidable but amount to small walls that are easily overcome -- once the effort is made. How do you overcome an obstacle? The first step is to recognize it. Acknowledge it. Admit it. And then clearly define what exactly it is that is standing in your way. Did you put it there? Is it something that you secretly want and so have done nothing to overcome? Did someone else put it there and was it intentional or not? What function does the obstacle play? Will anyone else miss that thing standing in your way if you get rid of it once and for all? Will you need help? Will you stay with the effort even if working toward overcoming that obstacle brings about side effects? The art of leadership is overcoming the obstacles to your plan without creating harm. If...