https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-kxgfq-19a1e6f
When I was first promoted to manager, I thought that being a good manager meant that I had to have all the answers. I thought it meant I had to be an expert at doing everything. Being a good manager meant that since I was going to be accountable for the results, I might as well make all the decisions. After all isnt that what good managers do? Isn’t that the reason I was promoted in the first place? Thank goodness it take me too long to realize that thats the farthest thing from the truth. Listen to my latest podcast and discover what good managers and leaders do. There’s being smart and then there’s being street smart.
There’s Smart and Then There’s Street Smart
When I was first promoted to manager, I thought being a good manager meant having all the answers. I thought it meant I had to be an expert at doing everything. Being a good manager meant that, since I was going to be held accountable for the results, I might as well make all the decisions. After all, isn’t that what good managers do? Wasn’t that why I was promoted in the first place? Thank goodness it didn’t take me too long to realize that was the farthest thing from the truth. It didn’t take me too long to realize that you’re only as good as the people on your team. There’s smart and then there’s street smart. Successful managers and leaders know the difference between the two.
Even in a hierarchy, people can be equal as thinkers. – Nancy Klein.
You won’t always make the right decisions purely based on what you know. Everyone’s crystal ball gets a little fuzzy sometimes, especially if it’s something that you’ve never done before. You only know what you know; you don’t know what you don’t know, and by the time you know you don’t know it, it may be too late. The street-smart thing to do would be to solicit advice from your team. Asking them for input is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength, demonstrating to others that you are comfortable in your own skin and don’t feel threatened by anyone. Successful managers and leaders surround themselves with people who do some tasks better than they do.
Knowledge building within an organization occurs by combining the distinct individualities of its people with a particular set of activities. – Dorothy Leonard.
Managing and leading others is a team sport. You’re only as good as the people on your team. Successful managers and leaders know when it’s time to lead and when it’s time to follow. Geese figured that out. When geese fly in formation, the leader doesn’t always lead the way. As the leader tires, they fall back and take their place among the flock, while a new leader emerges to lead them.
A specialist is someone who does everything else worse. – R. Ricci.
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room to be the most effective person in the room. Be a sponge. Learn all you can from the people around you. You’ll learn, they’ll learn, and you’ll both learn to appreciate each other. There’s smart and then there’s street smart. Successful managers and leaders know the difference between the two..
Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker for your next event, or planning a training session at your location? Brian works with people who want to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams, resolve conflicts or motivate others to perform at their best. He will customize a presentation that is right for you, your people, and your organization.
There is a More Intelligent Way to Disagree
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-wphvd-19877f8
There is a More Intelligent Way to Disagree. Making tough decisions carries risk, and inevitably, not everyone will agree with the decisions you have to make. Managing and leading others is not a popularity contest. Handling uncomfortable situations can be difficult, but if you have developed a relationship built on trust and mutual respect, chances are they will take a leap of faith, knowing you have their best interests in mind. Listen to this podcast and discover ten things you can do to disagree with someone without being disagreeable. They will serve you well in business, family relations and life in general.
There is a More Intelligent Way to Disagree
Making tough decisions carries risks, and inevitably, not everyone will agree with the decisions you have to make. Handling uncomfortable situations can be difficult, but if you have developed a relationship built on trust and mutual respect with those you work with and interact with, chances are they will take a leap of faith, knowing that you have their best interests in mind. They will understand that we can agree to disagree. That it need not be adversarial.
The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree but are too cowardly to let you know. – Napoleon.
We can express our differing opinions while maintaining respect and civility towards those with whom we disagree. There is a more intelligent way to disagree. Here are my top ten ways. Which ones will you need to master?
1 – Listen actively. Give the speaker your undivided attention. Do not interrupt.
2 – Use ‘I’ statements. Statements like ‘If I heard you correctly, you said ….’
3 – Acknowledge their point of view. Paraphrase what they said so they know you heard them.
4 – Stay composed. Don’t overreact. Don’t become emotional.
5 – Focus on issues. Do not resort to personal attacks and name-calling.
6 – Ask open-ended questions for clarity, so you understand their point of view.
7 – Find common ground that you both can agree on. Negotiate a win-win.
8 – Avoid generalizations and assumptions. Be specific.
9 – Practice empathy. Try to see things from their perspective.
10 – End on a positive note. Respect the fact that they have a right to express their opinion, even if you disagree with it, as long as they do it respectfully and professionally.
We need not all agree, but if we disagree, let us not be disagreeable in our disagreements. – M.R. DeHann.
The common denominator in all that we do is people. People skills, also referred to as soft skills, encompass our ability to communicate and interact effectively with others, which are skills that can be developed and improved. If you can learn how to disagree without being confrontational, you will have discovered the secret to getting along with people, especially with those you disagree with. It will serve you well in business, family relations and life. Conflict in itself is unavoidable; how you resolve it is optional. There is a more intelligent way to disagree.
Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced with permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker for your next event or planning a training session at your location? Brian works with people who want to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams, resolve conflicts or motivate others to perform at their best. He will tailor a presentation that is right for you, your team, and your organization.
Enhancing Lives & Transforming Leadership 