High Performance Leadership

Are you asking the right questions? One of my mentors, Lester T. Shapiro, told me that the primary role of leaders is to ask relevant questions. I heard that over twenty years ago, and it is as true today as it was then. Leaders ask questions. Questions to challenge. "What was the best thing about the performance? "What could we have done to make the performance better?" "What will you do differently next time?" Questions to probe. "What stands in your way?" "When will you achieve that goal?" "When will you know when you will know?" "What would make this goal even more noble, more ambitious?" Questions to motivate. "When have you overcome something like this before?" "Who do you know who has done something similar?" "What makes you feel good about this goal?" "Who will you help the most by achieving this goal? Questions. The secret to leadership success is ask...

Do you have a creative side? You know - that side that smiles when you're making something new. That side that sings not just in the shower but whenever a song strikes your fancy. That side that comes up with great new ideas when you weren't even trying to. That's you. Deep inside each of us, when we least expect it, is a creative spark just waiting to ignite. Fan those flames and watch the blaze light you up. You'll like the results. Your creative side is always available. Let it roll. -- Doug Smith

It takes creative people to solve problems creatively. -- Doug Smith

Opposition to a goal is a call for conversation. -- Doug Smith

Imagine this - you've been expecting someone on your team to complete an important task. The deadline is looming. You're ready for the deliverable at any time, and then...and then they start the list of excuses why they can't complete the task. No fun, right? Not acceptable, true? True for you, and true for others who rely on you as well. Leading for success leaves little room for excuses. When I worked at Whole Foods one of my bosses once said, "we live in the land of no excuses." It was true there then, and it's true here now. Nobody is interested in any excuses. -- Doug Smith

If our goals are competing, success will be fleeting. -- Doug Smith

Have you ever seen someone who is so flexible that it's hard to know where they stand? There have been times when I felt that way myself. It feels free, but then limits because it's so hard to make a decision. How do you choose? What's best? I've since learned that it helps in making decisions to rely on a solid set of values, a strong sense of purpose, and a committed set of goals. Everything else, from projects to past times, falls in line with those three things. When you add your sense of faith to your values (or as one of your values) it becomes much easier to see when it's necessary to be flexible and when it's necessary to remain firm. High performance leaders maintain flexibility without losing focus.  They know when to be flexible and when to be firm. How about you? -- Doug Smith