Category Archives: Personal Values

The Challenges of Transitioning Into A Leadership Role

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

You’ve been promoted into a leadership role in your organization. Your management group believes you have the credentials to take on this new position. Making that transition from worker to manager or leader can be complex. It requires a different set of skills. It’s no longer about what you know – it’s about you being able to teach someone else. It’s no longer just about you – it’s about everyone on your team and what you must do to help them succeed. If your team succeeds, then you’ve done your job. But if the team fails, you fail because it is your job to give them the tools to complete the task and accomplish the goal.

Worth Remembering – “Leadership is not a position or title; it is action and setting an example for everyone on your team to follow.”

I’ve spent over 40 years as a general manager of a major retailer, a college professor and an award-winning entrepreneur. I can tell you from my experiences that managing or leading others is a learned behaviour. We are not born to know how to manage and lead others effectively, but we can learn. Here’s what I think you should do.

  • Everyone has a preferred communication style. Learn to communicate in a way and manner that everyone will understand. Whatever you say will mean nothing if they don’t get the message.
  • Take the time to listen to what others have to say. You don’t have to agree with them, but you must respect that they have an opinion and a right to express it if it impacts them or someone on the team.
  • Be empathetic. See things from their point of view. There may be things going on at work or in their personal lives that you aren’t aware of.
  • Be flexible and open-minded. It doesn’t have to be your way to complete the task and accomplish the goal. You’ll get buy-in if you allow others to have input.
  • Be patient. It takes time for people to learn new skills. Be there to offer support. You must be their biggest cheerleader.
  • Relationships are important. Take the time to know everyone on your team for more than just their work. People like to work with people they like. People want to work for managers and leaders who make them feel essential to the team’s success.
  • Establish trust. Whatever you say you’re going to do – do it. They must be able to trust what you say. Truthfulness or honesty means having and standing by a strong set of values.

Worth Remembering – “Leadership is getting everyone on your team to work for you when they are not obligated to.”

One more thing. Knowing what you know is important. That’s why you’ve been promoted. But it’s more important to acknowledge that you don’t know everything. You don’t have all the answers – nor should you be expected to. Don’t be afraid to reach out when you need help. That’s what great managers and leaders do.

Copyright (c) 2023. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a corporate training provider or management consultant? To learn more about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization, visit https://briansmithpld.com or contact Brian directly at – brian@briansmithpld.com #leadershipdevelopment #managementtraining #coaching.

It’s Time Leaders Got FOCUSED On People

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Enduring Principles, Leadership Development, Management, Management Training, Mentorship, Personal Development, Personal Values, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, small business owner, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized

People like to work with and socialize with people they like. Building relationships at work is just as meaningful as building relationships with those you interact with outside of work. The newest generation to enter the workforce – Gen Z – prefers to work for an organization that allows fun, friendships and life-enriching activities. How much fun are you and your leadership team to be around?

Worth Remembering – “Good coaching is about leadership and instilling respect in your players. Dictators lead through fear – good coaches like good leaders don’t.” – Unknown

It’s time leaders got FOCUSED on People.

F – Friendly – Smile, say hello, and develop those all-important relationships. You need to expand your circle of influence. Lead by walking around and getting to know everyone on your team.

O – Organized – My Dad told me you’re late if you don’t show up 15 minutes before you said you would. You’re sending the wrong message if you don’t arrive on time – you’re telling everyone that your time is more valuable than theirs.

C – Courteous – Treat people respectfully, even if you don’t like them. It costs you nothing to be respectful of others. But it pays dividends.

U – Understanding – You need to see things from another person’s point of view. You only know what you know – and you can’t know everything. Be empathetic, open-minded and flexible.

S – Sincere – What you say and do must be congruent. If you genuinely want to build relationships with others, how you treat them will be evident.

E – Energized – Be passionate and enthusiastic about what you are doing and the direction the organization is headed.; others will want to follow.

D – Dependable – Whatever you say you will do – do it. People must be able to depend on you. Your word must be your bond. If others can’t trust your word – they won’t trust you.

Worth Remembering – “Show respect to others even when they don’t deserve it. Showing respect to others reflects your character – not theirs.” – Unknown.

People won’t care about you or your organization unless they know how much you care about them. People won’t respect you or your leadership team – unless they know you respect them. Respect is reciprocal – you have to give it to get it. You can’t demand respect – you must earn it.

Copyright (c) 2023. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To learn more about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization, visit: https://briansmithpld.com. All four of Brian’s books are available on Amazon in print and e-reader editions. https://amazon.com/author/brsmith

The Leadership Imperative- How To Attract and Retain Gen Zs

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

We are entering a new era of leadership. Generation Z – born between 1996 and 2012 – is the latest generation to enter the workforce. They are projected to make up 27% of the workforce by 2025. They are like no other generation that has come before them. They are the first generation to grow up in the digital age. The jury is still out, but there is one thing for sure, your business future depends on this generation. You must change how you manage and lead to attract and retain Gen Zs.

Here is what the research conducted by Deyan Georgiev, Beresford Research, Forbes and Extreme Research is telling us.

Connecting: Most Gen Zs see diversity as a significant factor in choosing a job. Employers should focus on inclusivity to tap into this future workforce. They want a job that will impact the world and work for an organization that believes in and shares their values. The virtual space has become convenient for hanging out with friends and family. To this generation – social media is a way of life. Gen Zs are interested in working in a place that allows fun, friendships and life-enriching activities. Is your organization a fun place to work? Having fun at work can lead to creativity, increased productivity, better decision making and collaborative teams. To attract and retain Gen Zs, you must make them feel welcomed and treat them like family.

Communicating: Smartphones are a natural extension of Gen Zs. As many as 98% of all Generation Zs own a smartphone. Fifty-five percent are on their smartphones for up to ten hours a day. They consider social media a valuable workplace tool. Fifty-one percent still prefer face-to-face communication, which explains why Zoom, Tik Tok and Teams have become popular ways of interacting. They don’t read traditional newspapers; they like to get their information online. To attract and retain Gen Zs, you need to be tech-savvy and comfortable communicating in a virtual world.

Educating: Gen Z is the most educated generation. However, because they rely on technology, they lack the soft social skills of previous generations. The good news is they are eager to learn how to communicate and interact face-to-face, resolve conflict, problem solve and learn how to work in a team environment. You must create an environment that is conducive to learning. They are comfortable learning online or watching an instructional video. To attract and retain Gen Zs, you must teach them the skills they lack.

Delegating: It is essential to provide opportunities to learn and grow. Still, Gen Zs lack the experience and self-confidence of previous generations, so you need to teach them how to perform a task. If the student didn’t learn, the teacher never taught. Give them autonomy and ongoing support once they’ve learned how to complete the job. You must learn to delegate and give up control. If you don’t delegate effectively, you rob Gen Zs of their growth opportunities. Upward mobility is important to them. To attract and retain Gen Zs, you must provide a path forward.

Copyright (c) 2022. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To find out what Brian can do for you and your organization, visit https://briansmithpld.com or email brian@briansmithpld.com.

We Need Leaders Who We Can Trust & Believe In

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Customer Service, Enduring Principles, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, Leadership Development, Management, Mentorship, Personal Development, Personal Values, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, small business owner, Teacher, Uncategorized

What does it say about the world we live in when we question the honesty and integrity of the people in leadership positions both in government and the private sector? What does it say about the world we live in when governments need to pass laws requiring Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers of Corporations to sign off on their company’s financial results? And if found to be false, they can face criminal prosecution. Now – more than ever, we need leaders who we can trust and believe in.

Worth Remembering … “Leaders walk their talk; in true leaders, there is no gap between the theories they espouse, and their practice.” – Warren Bennis

What does it say about a leader if they behave one way in public and behave a different way behind closed doors? Does that mean there are two kinds of ethics: business and personal? If there are two kinds of ethics, does that mean it’s ok to lie, cheat and con your customers and employees, but not your family and friends? At times, it must get confusing for leaders to remember what hat they’re supposed to be wearing.

Worth Remembering … “In organizations where people trust and believe in each other, they don’t get into regulating and coercing behaviours. They don’t need a policy for every mistake. People in these trusting environments respond with enormous commitment and creativity.” – Walter Wriston.

What are ethical or unethical behaviours? How should a true leader behave? True leaders keep their word and honour their commitments. True leaders don’t just promise to stick up for people and have their back – they do it. True leaders don’t just preach fairness; they practice it. And they don’t just counsel others about honesty and integrity; they live it every day, both in public and behind closed doors. What they say and their actions are congruent. They are the same. You can’t be ethical some of the time – you must be ethical all the time. You can’t be ethical at home and not at work or vice versa. You’re either ethical, or you’re not. We need leaders who we can trust and believe in.

Copyright (c) 2022. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Brian has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership to Follow in 2022. To find out more about Brian and what he can do for you visit, https://briansmithpld.com