Category Archives: Planning

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.

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.

Unleashing The Power Of Your Potential

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

Have you ever wondered why you do what you do and why you do it the way you do it? We become who we are at a very young age. We get accustomed to behaving a certain way, communicating and interacting with others a certain way, which eventually becomes us. An individual’s personality remains relatively stable throughout their lifetime. You are who you are – embrace it. Understanding your behaviour and how it impacts you and the people around you can be the catalyst to unleashing the power of your potential.

Worth Remembering: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.’ – Carl Jung – Psychologist.

Have you ever scored an assessment tool to help identify your preferred behavioural style? They are designed to assess a person’s personality – how you communicate, interact with others, manage others and how you want to be managed. Some popular assessment tools are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Clifton Strengths and the True Color Personality Test. However, I prefer an assessment tool based on Dr. William Marstons DISC theory because it is easy to administer, and you don’t need a Ph.D. in behavioural sciences to interpret the results.

Worth Remembering: “Whatever the circumstances of your life, the understanding of your personality can make your perceptions clearer, your judgements sounder and your life closer to your heart’s desire.” – Isabel Briggs Myers

Behavioural assessments are not an exact science – just a great indicator of a person’s strengths. I’ve worked with several organizations that use them in their hiring processes to help identify their ideal candidate.

Based on Marston’s DISC theory:

D – Dominant Styles feel most content in authoritative positions and are best suited for entrepreneurs, lawyers and police or any work that displays power.

I – Interpersonal Styles prefer occupations that entail teamwork and collaboration and are best suited for public relations, sales, and marketing professionals or any position that involves working with people.

S – Steadiness Styles have a way of making others feel comfortable and at ease. They are best suited for a nurse, counsellor, therapist or any position that involves helping others.

C – Conscientious Styles are true perfectionists. Their analytical skills make them outstanding planners and problem solvers, and they are best suited as an engineer, systems administrator, actuaries or any position that requires maintaining standards and accuracy.

Stick with what you are good at and put your strengths to work for you. Scoring a behavioural assessment and determining where your strengths lie and what career path you may be best suited for is an excellent way of unleashing the power of your potential.

Want to discover your strengths? Click on the link and download a “Free” DISC E-Book. https://briansmitpld/free-download/

Copyright (c) 2023. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To learn about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization, visit https://briansmithpld.com.

If You Think About It – You Are A Project Manager

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Leadership Development, Management, Mentorship, Personal Development, Planning, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, Teacher, Uncategorized

According to Wikipedia, a project manager is a trained professional responsible for the planning, procurement and execution of a project with a defined scope, and a defined start and completion date, regardless of any industry. A skilled project manager is critical to the success of the project.

Worth Remembering – “Being a good project manager is like being an artist – you have different coloured process streams combining into a work of art.” – George Cimmarrusti.

If you think of yourself in that same context, you are a project manager in charge of all aspects of managing your life. Some of the competencies critical to a project manager’s success managing a project are essential to your success in living the life you envisioned.

Five competencies that are critical to your success as a project manager.

Execution: PMs employ strong organizational skills and incorporate time management principles into the workflow. That’s no different than you. Wishing and hoping won’t make it so. You must plan and execute your plan to reach your goals and complete your project on time.

Decision Making: PMs make timely decisions based on facts, circumstances and needs. That’s no different than you. What steps do you need to take to reach your goal? All those pieces need to fall into place. Have you prioritized what needs to get done and by when?

Strategy Development: PMs understand the impact of a project on the overall business and integrate business goals into the scope and deliverables of the project. That’s no different than you. Unexpected situations may arise that need your immediate attention. You may have to put your project on hold temporarily.

Critical Thinking: PMs apply ongoing analysis to determine the project’s progress. That’s no different than you. What gets monitored and measured gets done. Are you on track to reach your goals on the timeline you set, or will you need to adjust your completion date?

Leadership: PMs take on the leadership of the project. That’s no different than you. You need to own it. You must take ownership of your life and be disciplined enough to say no to things that detour you from accomplishing your goals.

Worth Remembering – “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals; adjust the action steps.” – Confusious

I’ve identified five competencies that are critical to successfully reaching your goals. Which ones are you good at – and which ones will you need to learn? Please feel free to contact me – I can help you develop the skills you need to accomplish your goals. After all – if you think about it, you are the project manager of your life.

Copyright (c) 2023. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a training provider for yourself or your team? I work with people who want to learn how to communicate and interact more effectively with others, build collaborative teams, resolve conflict or lead and motivate others to perform at their best. To learn more about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization visit, https://briansmithpld.com – All of Brian’s programs can be delivered virtually or in person.