Category Archives: Soft-Skills Training

Everything You Do is a Matter of Choice

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, management, Personal Development, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized

My ex-wife and I have a good relationship. I consider her one of my closest friends. Divorce can be adversarial or not – it’s a choice. You can decide to drag out the proceedings by not negotiating in good faith, or you can come to an agreement with which you can both live. Everything you do is a matter of choice. You may not like the options you have to pick from – but it is a choice. You can choose to do nothing – and see what happens – or you can choose to do something and hopefully end up with what you want. Everything you do is a matter of choice.

Worth Remembering – “It is in your moments of decision that your future is shaped.” – Robbins

You can choose to chastise your employees for making a mistake, or you can choose to teach them the way you’d like it done so they don’t make the same mistake a second time. You can choose to belittle them in front of their peers, or you can choose to have a private conversation. You can choose not to give credit where credit is due or praise an individual or team in front of the entire department or organization – and let everyone know that it was their idea that turned the situation around – not yours. Everything you do is a matter of choice.

Worth Remembering – “It’s easy to make decisions once you know what your values are.” – Disney

The next time you are faced with making a choice – do what I do. Ask yourself a series of questions, and then decide on the best course of action that will get you what you want.

Ask Yourself:

  • What’s in it for me? What do I want? You have to name it to claim it.
  • Is there a lesson here? What am I supposed to be taking away from this, so I don’t repeat it?
  • If I do this – what will happen? If I do that – what will happen? Pick one
  • If I decide to do nothing – what’s the worst thing that might happen? If you decide to do nothing that is a choice.
  • What do I need to do to get what I want? Am I willing to do that?
  • If I choose and end up not getting what I want – what am I prepared to do next?

Worth Remembering – “Make good choices today, so you don’t have regrets tomorrow.” – Unknown

Keep in mind that what happens in Vegas never stays in Vegas. Google rules the world, and it never forgets. You are free to choose what you do and post online, but you are not free to alter the consequences of your decisions. Someone will find it if it is out there on the dark web. So, make sure whatever you decide to do – you can live with it. Everything you do is a matter of choice.

Copyright (c) 2022. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you looking for a keynote speaker – planning a lunch-n-learn or training sessions? Brian has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Biggest Voices on Leadership to follow. To find out more about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization visit – https://briansmithpld.com

To Promote or Not to Promote? That is The Question

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

Making the transition from worker to manager is very difficult, and it can be even more difficult if you are promoted from within the same department or peer group. You’re a co-worker one week, and the following week, you’re their manager. The things that helped you get noticed on the shop floor are essential, and there’s no question you’ll need to bring those qualities with you into your new position. But you’ll most likely have to add some new skills to your manager’s tool kit if you want to be noticed by those in the corner office.

Worth Remembering … “A common core of personal and social abilities has proven to be the key ingredient in people’s success: emotional intelligence.” – Daniel Goleman

What makes a worker promotable? What qualities does a worker have that make them management material? Are you basing your decision on their technical ability or ability to get along with and manage others? (Hard-skills versus soft-skills). Managing and leading others is about people. If they don’t like being around people and helping people to be successful, they’ll be lousy managers. It’s not about what they know. Managing and leading others is about teaching others what they know and helping to build collaborative teams.

Worth Remembering … “One of the most important things about being a good manager is to rule with a heart. You have to know the business, but you also have to know what is at the heart of the business, and that’s people.” – Oprah.

Sixty-seven percent of the competencies needed to work with and manage or lead others are emotionally based. Think about that the next time you are looking to promote someone. Promote someone who has excellent people skills. Someone open-minded, flexible, empathetic, patient, a good listener and communicator, and interacts well with others. Promote someone who can work with others to resolve conflict, problem solve and motivate them to perform at their personal best. To promote or not to promote? That is the question.

Copyright (c) Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Brian has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership to Watch For in 2022 by #leadersHum. To find out more about Brian and what he can do for you and your organization, visit – https://briansmithpld.com

The Secret to a Successful 2022 is Between Your Ears

brian smith-pld, Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, management, Mentorship, New Year's Resolutions, Personal Development, Planning, Professional development, Reformed Control Freak, Self-Help, small business owner, Soft-Skills Training, Teacher, Uncategorized

Think it, act it, and eventually, through patience and hard work, it will become you. The secret to a successful 2022 is between your ears. Just thinking about it isn’t good enough. You have to apply yourself. That’s the difference between successful and not-so-successful people. Successful people continually work at it. Successful people get up off the couch and get after it. Successful people have a game plan and hit the ground running.

Worth Remembering …”Success is never accidental.”

What would you rather be doing with your life than what you are doing right now? If you wanted to take your passion and turn it into a profitable business, what kind of business would that be? What does your ideal career look like? If you aspire to be promoted and take on a leadership role in your organization, would role would that be? Life – your life – is a planned event. Wishing and hope won’t make it so.

Worth Remembering … “A goal without a plan is just wishful thinking.”

Good habits = good results. We are adults and we can develop new habits. What new habits will you need to develop to start your own small business? Will you need to be a better planner and manage your time more efficiently? What new habits will you need to develop to get promoted and take on that leadership role in your organization? Will you need to learn how to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams, resolve conflict or motivate others to perform at their personal best?

Worth Remembering … “You are the boss of you.”

Once you’ve made up your mind and decided on what you want to do and how to go about getting it, through patience and hard work, everything will eventually fall into place. Your success is never a given. The secret is to focus all of your energy on building the new you. It’s time you got after it. The secret to a successful 2022 is between your ears.

On a Personal Note: Thank you for being part of my 2021. I’m here to help. I want 2022 to be your best year yet. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions looking for answers about the challenges you’re facing starting your small business, managing and leading others, or getting that promotion. You can contact me directly at: brian@briansmithpld.com

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

Are You an Asset or a Liability?

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

Are you an asset or a liability? Are you a good team player who contributes to the team’s success or a social loafer who likes to blend into the background where your lack of effort isn’t easily spotted? Teams and teamwork make for a great sound bite – but in your world – the real world – do they produce the kinds of results your company wants? Or do they create more problems than they are worth? For the most part, management can’t expect to throw people together – call them a team – and have them perform as a team without letting you know what they expect from a good team player.

Worth Remembering … “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi

What would you put on that list if you had to put together a list of what you thought makes a good team player? Would you put:

  • Honesty: I would expect a good team player to be honest and upfront and tell the truth no mattter what. If people can’t trust what you say – they can’t trust you at all.
  • Integrity: I would expect a good team player to have strong moral principles and live by them.
  • Openminded: I would expect a good team player to be open-minded, willing to consider new ideas and not be stuck in the old way of doing things because you’ve always done it that way.
  • Flexible: I would expect a good team player to positively respond to circumstances and changing conditions.
  • Patient: I would expect a good team player to accept delays or problems without becoming annoyed or anxious.
  • Empathetic: I would expect a good team player to understand and share the feelings of other team players.

Worth Remembering … “We are not a team because we work together. We are a team because we respect, trust, and care for each other.” – Unknown

Action speakers louder than words. What are you prepared to do to show everyone on your team – that you are a good team player? Are you an asset or a liability?

Copyright (c) 2021. Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. To find out more about Brian and what he can do for you or your organization visit: https://briansmithpld.com