Category Archives: Mentorship

Forget About Your Weaknesses – Amplify Your Strengths

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, Management, Management Training, Mentorship, Personal Development, Personality Types, Planning, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized

We are who we are and act the way we act because that’s who we are. You can’t take the stripes off the tiger or rub the spots off a leopard. It’s in their DNA. We are born with a particular style – a certain way of behaving that is engrained in us at a very young age. We must embrace who we are and amplify our strengths instead of wasting time trying to improve our weaknesses. It’s only a weakness if it’s getting in the way of accomplishing our goals.

Research conducted by Dr. Carl Yung and Dr. William Marston shows that we have a natural personality—a natural way of behaving determined by our genetic makeup and environment. We prefer to communicate and interact with others in a certain way, and we like to manage and be managed by others in a certain way. It’s in our DNA.

‘The task of an executive is not to change human beings. The task is to multiply the performance capacity of the whole by putting to good use whatever strength or aspirations there are in individuals.’ – Peter Drucker.

We are all good at doing something. I used a behaviour assessment tool based on Marston’s findings to help identify my strengths. To identify what I’m good at. I recommend you do the same. DISC is easy to administer, and you don’t need a PhD to interpret the results.

D – Dominant personalities are direct and decisive. They make quick decisions when others cannot. They confront challenges or difficult situations head-on and keep the team focused.

I – Interpersonal personalities are optimistic and outgoing. They love being around people and will make themselves available to others. They are great communicators and have an innate ability to develop collaborative teams.

S – Steadiness personalities are sympathetic and cooperative. They are sensitive to others’ needs, meet agendas methodically and are great listeners. They will maintain the status quo.

C – Conscientious personalities are concerned and correct. They like things done the right way. They are thorough and will maintain high standards. They are your very best planners.

‘Whatever the circumstances of your life, the understanding of type can make your perceptions clearer, your judgements sounder, and your life closer to your heart’s desire.’ – Isabel Briggs Myers – The Myers Briggs Type Indicator.

There are occupations best suited for us based on our personalities. Don’t waste your time trying to improve what you don’t do well. Choose a career path that compliments what you do well. Forget about your weaknesses – amplify your strengths.

Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you interested in learning more about DISC and how it will make you a better team member, manager or leader? Visit our website and download a FREE DISC lesson. Contact Brian if you are searching for a keynote speaker for your next event or planning a training session at your location. Brian specializes in soft skills training and leadership development.

Are You Missing Out On That Promotion

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, Management, Management Training, Mentorship, Personal Development, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, small business owner, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized • Tags: , , , ,

Your ability to manage your emotions and recognize and influence the feelings of others is considered an essential skill. We live in a hi-tech world, but your soft skills – empathy, patience, open-mindedness and your ability to communicate, listen and establish trust with those you work with and interact with will play a significant role in your success. According to Dr. Daniel Goleman’s research, sixty-seven percent of the competencies required to manage and lead others are emotionally based. If you can’t connect emotionally with others, you’ll have difficulty managing or leading them. Are you missing out on that promotion?

Worth Remembering – So much success has nothing to do with hard skills. – Harvey MacKay.

Soft skills won’t guarantee that promotion, but not having them puts you at risk of not getting the offer.

Empathy – is your ability to see things from another person’s point of view. Put yourself in their shoes and do what you can to help them.

Patience – is your ability to remain calm under pressure and accept delays or problems without becoming anxious or angry and lashing out at someone.

Open-mindedness – is your willingness to consider someone else’s point of view, whether new or different, before deciding on a course of action.

Communicating – is your ability to communicate in a way that others will understand. Whatever you say won’t mean anything if they haven’t received the message as you intended.

Listening – is your ability to give someone your undivided attention when they are speaking. Remember what Covey said—listen to understand, not necessarily to agree.

Trustworthiness – is your ability to establish trust. Whatever you say you’re going to do – do it. People must be able to trust what you say. If they can’t trust your word – they won’t trust you.

Worth Remembering – Likeability is a soft skill that leads to hard result. – Mo Bunnell.

Soft skills are people skills that are not negotiable. People like to work with people they like. Not everyone wants to lead – but everyone gets to decide who they want to follow. If no one is following you – you aren’t leading. Are you missing out on that promotion?

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 an in-house training session. Brian works with people who want to learn how to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams, resolve conflict or motivate others to perform at their best regardless of gender of generation. Contact Brian to learn more.

What Excuse Will You Use Next Year

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, Management, Management Training, Mentorship, Personal Development, Planning, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, small business owner, Teacher, Uncategorized • Tags: , , , ,

A new year shuffles in a whole new set of possibilities. It allows you to throw out the old and bring in the new. However, a new year will be the same as the old year unless you take a moment to reflect on the past, re-energize, plan and focus on the year ahead. If you don’t accomplish your goals in 2025, what excuse will you use next year?

Change can be painful, but nothing is as painful as being stuck somewhere you don’t belong. – Mandy Hale

Questions looking for answers.

1 – What habit held you back from achieving your goals in 2024.

2 – What lessons did you learn in 2024 so you don’t repeat them in 2025.

3 – What is one skill you want to master in 2025.

4 – What new habits will you commit to in 2025 to help you reach your goals.

5 – Are you ready to make some changes to accomplish your goals.

6 – What are you prepared to do to manage your time more effectively and efficiently.

7 – What will success look like to you in 2025.

8 – What is the most impactful thing you learned in 2024 that will help you succeed in 2025.

You must choose to take a chance, or your life will never change. When you change a habit, you change the result.

You only have 168 hours a week – no more or no less. Are you spending time with people holding you back or helping you move forward? What are you prepared to do if they are holding you back. If you don’t accomplish your goals in 2025, what excuse will you use next year?

Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker or planning an in-house training session for you and your team. Brian works with people who want to learn how to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams or resolve conflict. Visit Brian’s website to learn more about him and what he can do for you. https;//briansmithpld.com.

Me Thinketh a Monologue Doth Not a Dialogue Maketh

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, Management, Management Training, Mentorship, Personal Development, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized • Tags: , , , ,

Communication isn’t just something – it’s everything. I can’t think of a more valuable skill than communicating effectively. However, communication is a two-way street. It’s an exchange of thoughts and ideas amongst one or more persons. Me thinketh a monologue doth not a dialogue maketh.

I know you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. – Alan Greenspan.

It takes a great deal of effort on both the sender’s and receiver’s part to ensure the message has been sent, received, and, most importantly, understood. I haven’t even mentioned yet how each generation and gender communicate differently. Sometimes, they are not on the same wavelength. When you add that to the mix, it’s no wonder communication can break down.

A study on gender differences by Professor Deborah Frances Tannen of Georgetown University and Professor Julia Wood of the University of North Carolina noted that;

  • Women are more inclined to face each other and make eye contact when talking, while men are more likely to look away.
  • Men tend to jump from topic to topic, but women talk at length about one topic at a time.
  • Women are inclined to express agreement and support, while men are inclined to debate.
  • Women see communication as a way to connect and build relationships, while men see it as a way to accomplish an objective.
  • Women seek out and welcome relationships, while men think relationships will jeopardize their independence.

Avoid fight or flight; always talk through your differences. – Stephen Covey.

We aren’t born great communicators. It is a learned behaviour. Here are some tips to help you communicate more effectively.

  • Ask open-ended questions for clarity to promote dialogue to ensure they have received the message.
  • Listen twice as much as you talk. You won’t learn anything if you keep talking.
  • Be more intuitive to non-verbal cues to check for points of disagreement or misunderstanding. Based on the work of Dr. Ralph Nichols, we communicate 55 percent of the time using body language alone.
  • When giving instructions, be direct and to the point. Too much information tends to overwhelm the receiver.

If the essence of communication is sending and receiving the message as intended, you must remember that you are not the most important person in the conversation. Me thinketh a monologue doth not a dialogue maketh.

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 an in-house training session. Contact Brian to learn what he can do for you, your team and your organization. Brian’s training programs include individual coaching at no extra cost.