Category Archives: small business owner

There’s Smart and Then There’s Street Smart

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

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.

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.

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.