Category Archives: Professional development

Don’t Let Difficult People Sabotage Your Career

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Dealing with Difficult People, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, Management, Management Training, Personal Development, Personality Types, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized • Tags: ,

Have you ever met someone for the first time and thought, Oh, yuck – what a dink? And I don’t mean Double Income No Kids. You didn’t know why; you just felt there was something about them that you didn’t like. But after spending time with them and getting to know them better, you changed your mind. Establishing a rapport and building a relationship with the people you work with and interact with is crucial to your success as a team member, manager or leader. You don’t have to socialize with everyone you work with, but you must learn how to get along with them. Don’t let difficult people sabotage your career.

Your ability to get along with others, will determine your happiness and success as much as any other factor. – Brian Tracy.

People tend to work more effectively with those they like. The 3-Rs – Rapport, Relationship, Respect will help you establish those all-important connections.

Step One – Rapport. Try to learn something about the people you work with, beyond their job responsibilities. Do they have any hobbies? What do they like to do in their spare time? To establish a rapport, you need to engage in a friendly conversation on a topic that interests them. Idle chit-chat is essential to establishing rapport.

Step Two – Relationship. Once you have established a rapport, the next step is to build a relationship. Successful salespeople recognize the importance of cultivating strong relationships with their clients. People like to do business with people they like. The same holds true for the people who work with you. They prefer to work with someone they like.

Step Three – Respect. You won’t respect anyone you haven’t built a relationship with. Mutual respect evolves. But you have to give it to get it. Being a good team member, manager, or leader isn’t about being popular, although that doesn’t hurt. If I had to choose between being liked or respected, I would choose respect. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that may not be popular with everyone. They may disagree with the decision you made, but they will still respect you.

Unity is strength. With teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. – Mattie Stepanek.

You have to go along to get along. However, you must also recognize that the strength of the team is comprised of individuals with diverse perspectives and personalities. Don’t expect others to be just like you. Not everyone cares as much as you care. Not everyone is as committed as you are. Not everyone has the same career aspirations as you do. Some people choose not to lead, but they do choose who they want to follow. Build those all-important relationships. Don’t let difficult people sabotage your career.

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 learn how to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams, resolve conflict or motivate others to perform at their best. Contact Brian to discover how he can assist you and your team.

Are You Still Putting Out Fires.

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: , , , ,

Do you know me? I’m looking over your shoulder, waiting for you to make a mistake so I can point out everything you’ve done wrong. My way is always the best. I need to be in charge and want everyone to know about it. I’m the classic control freak. I am robbing you of your opportunity to grow because I haven’t learned how to give up control to get control. I haven’t learned how to delegate. Does this sound familiar? Are you still putting out fires?

Worth Remembering – ‘In the digital age, you need to make knowledge workers out of every employee possible. ‘ – Bill Gates.

To stop putting out fires, you must ignore the urge to micro-manage everyone because the reality is you can’t control everything all of the time. It’s bigger than you. You physically can’t be in all places at once. You can’t be looking over everyone’s shoulder all the time at the same time. You must learn to trust the people around you and make knowledgeable workers by delegating some of your responsibilities to those on your team.

Worth Remembering – ‘Big things and little things are a leader’s job. Middle management can be delegated.’ – Konosuke Matsushita.

Delegation 101. Eight easy steps to effective delegation.

Step One – Decide what you want to delegate. You must be clear about the task and ensure they have all the tools they will need to complete it.

Step Two – Decide who is capable and, most importantly, who is willing to take on more responsibility.

Step Three – Create a teachable moment. First, demonstrate the task, then have them perform it, and once they have completed the task satisfactorily, leave them alone.

Step Four – Ask open-ended questions to ensure learning has taken place. You need to make sure they know what needs to be done and why.

Step Five – Follow up, follow up and then follow up some more. Make it a point to check in on them now and again to make sure things are still on track.

Step Six – Keep the lines of communication open. Let them know you are here to help them if and when they want it.

Step Seven—Hold them accountable for the results. Standards and quality are not open for debate, but how they accomplish them can be. It doesn’t have to be just your way.

Step Eight – Recognize what has been accomplished and praise their performance.

You don’t appreciate it when someone is looking over your shoulder, watching your every move, and second-guessing every decision you make, so don’t do the same to them. Stop micro-managing. Are you still putting out fires?

Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker for your next evernt, planning a webinare or a training session at your location. Contact Brian. He specializes in soft skills training and leadership development. Brian will customize a presentation that is right for you and your organization.

Strengths Overused Can Become A Weakness

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

We are who we are and act the way we act because that is who we are. But that might not be a good thing. A strength overused or used in the wrong situation can become a weakness. When you identify why you do what you do, you can learn to modify your behaviour to get a more favourable result. You can learn to act in a way that will get you what you want because if you act the way you usually do, it may be counterproductive to accomplishing your goals.

Worth Remembering – ‘Mastering others is a strength; mastering yourself is true power.’ – Lao Tzu.

We are creatures of habit. We get accustomed to acting a certain way. We know that a good habit produces a good result, just like a bad habit produces a bad result. We know we can learn new habits. Just stop doing one thing and start doing another; if you do it often enough, it will become you. Some experts believe that if you do it twenty-one times in a row, you will create a new habit.

DISC Theory, developed by Dr. William Marston, is a tremendous behavioural assessment tool designed to help you identify your weaknesses. Remember – a strength overused can become a weakness.

Dominant Personalities – Others may see limitations because you can appear unapproachable, insensitive, and impatient with others.

Interpersonal Personalities – Others may see limitations because you can be disorganized, appear superficial in your approach to others, and lack follow-through.

Steadiness Personalities – Others may see limitations because you can be indecisive, you won’t disagree with what you don’t agree with, and resist change for fear of failing.

Conscientious Personalities – Others may see limitations because you can be overly concerned with perfection, act aloof, and stifle creativity by sticking to your plan.

Worth Remembering – ‘Never share your weaknesses with anyone. Your enemies will use them against you.’ – Brian Smith.

Our weaknesses are an integral part of who we are. It’s in our DNA. But they can become our Achilles’ heal. If your weaknesses are getting in the way of accomplishing what you want, you have the power to change how you do it. All you have to do is learn to act in a way that will get you what you want. Remember – a strength overused can become a weakness.

Copyright 2025. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To learn 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. Are you 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.

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.