High Performance Leadership

Do other people try to waste your time? I say try, because it is up to you whether or not you allow them to. People will do their best to consume our time. In many cases it is useful, helpful, and necessary. In other cases, it simply uses up time that we could spend more productively on our goals. People will treat your time the way that you do. If you give it away at the slightest request, or if you are observed frivolously using it up, people will assume that your time is that that valuable. Your time IS that valuable. Your time is the most valuable asset you have and completely unreplenishable. Use it wisely. Demonstrate to others how important it is, and they will much more likely understand. There's no point in complaining about how little time you have. We all have the same amount. How will you honor your time responsibly today? -- Doug Smith

It might be comforting to think you know everything, but it wouldn't be true. Even in a narrow field, even after years of experience, high performance leaders continue to learn. It's all changing too fast to know it all. Not only do the questions keep changing but so do the answers. What we thought we knew turns out not to be true. What seemed certain is now up for grabs. From dietary changes to political revolutions to scientific advances to philosophical re-thinking -- all we can do as leaders is keep up, shape up, and keep inventing. When are done? We are not ever done. Keep inventing. -- Doug Smith

How are you under pressure? When deadlines loom, when the client calls upset, when demands are unreasonable -- how do you react? High performance leaders are not screamers. That stereotype might play on TV but never in a real workplace. Real leaders remain calm under pressure. It's possible to communicate a sense of urgency without being a jerk. It's possible to elevate a conversation without yelling. If we get angry it just gets in the way. People will react but they will also (actively or passively) get even. The cost is too high to get loud and emotional. High performance leaders stay calm. Take a breath. Heck, take three deep breaths. Center yourself. Keep a view of the big picture. And then let the work take care of the work. -- Doug Smith

Do you ever feel forced to choose between quality or quantity? You either make it right or you simply get it done fast? That's a false choice. It's not either/or. Sure, it's tougher to do more and do it well. That's why we train. That's why we focus. That's why we work hard. I've had times when I worked very carefully, very slowly, and very fastidiously on something to get it perfect. And you know what? It did not end up perfect. It ended up plenty good, but plenty good could have been reached in half the time. I'm not saying cut corners. Do things right. Build in quality. Find the ways to make your processes, your thinking, and your doing faster, better and smarter. Build in quality AND quantity. Because in today's fast-paced, highly competitive, rapidly changing world, what other choice have you? -- Doug Smith

How would your team describe your goals? Ambitious? Lofty? Aggressive? Self-serving? Noble? What is a noble goal? I think a goal that is noble intends no harm. It drives action toward making things better for others. Noble goals create a better world, without creating any losers. Great leaders inspire noble goals. They focus on aligning their actions with accomplishing their mission -- a mission that simply makes things better. It's too easy to be self-serving. It's too easy to check the box on goals that highlight our strengths. The growth occurs in noble goals. Solving difficult problems. Creating opportunities for others. Living large without bloating the ego. Noble goals are tougher. That's why they lead to better results. Kick your own high performance leadership into gear today. Talk to someone about how noble your shared goals are. You might just inspire someone. -- Doug Smith

What goal are you working on? Maybe you don't spend every minute of every day working on your goals. I certainly don't. But when I do work on my goals they propel me forward. They get me going. Find your favorite goal. Work on it.  Even if you start with the smallest task. Put one task after the other like little steps leading to a lofty elevation. Goals get us going. Because standing still goes nowhere. -- Doug Smith

How do you feel when someone on your team says that "maybe" they'll finish something? How strong is your confidence with a response of "maybe?" Your confidence with maybe should be zero. Maybe is uncertain. Maybe has a ton of wiggle room. And much of the time people will wiggle right out of a commitment using the word maybe. Maybe I'll work out. Maybe I'll finish that project this week. Maybe I'll pay attention to protocol. Maybe. If someone on your team says "maybe" ask for clarity. What do they mean? Maybe what? How about a real answer? How about some certainty? What can they say yes to? -- Doug Smith