Earl R. Smith II's Blog, page 66
December 10, 2014
Just Couldn’t Bring Himself …
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The deer in the headlights – we all know the story – the car rounds the bend on a dark night – the deer stands frozen in the glare and cannot move even as its death approaches. Humans sometimes act this way – and sometimes with similar [...]
Six Qualities of a Successful Manager – How a Coach Can Help Bring Them Out
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com A successful manager is the one who is able to get the strongest performance from his team. Most high-performance managers have employed an executive coach during their rise to the top. One of reasons that this pattern is so prevalent is that a coach helps bring out the [...]
Finding a Mirror – Realizing
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We look in them every day – and use them as metaphors for achieving deeper self-knowledge. Every person we meet is one and what they show us can be far more valuable than any highly polished surface. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I won’t sugarcoat it – mentoring can bring some [...]
To ‘E’ or to ‘O’?
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com Most of my early-stage advisory engagements initially focus on helping the ‘CEO’ understand what it means to be a CEO. That understanding – or lack thereof – can have a determining impact on a company’s future. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Within the dim and fading mists of the history of every [...]
OK … its ‘O’ Now What?
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com Once a founder begins to come to terms with what it means to be a CEO, there are choices to be made. The first is, what will be their role in the company as it grows. The answer is not foregone and a real test of the founder’s [...]
Getting the Most Out of Your Board of Directors
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com With many companies – particularly early-stage ones – the Board of Directors is seen as little more than a legal necessity. But it can be so much more including an important force for growth and a gyroscope that keeps things on course and sure-footed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I work with [...]
Board of Directors – Basic Principles
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com Quite often, the board of directors is overlooked in early-stage companies. But it can be the source of strength, wisdom and oversight that can make the difference between success and failure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quite often my engagements begin with an invitation from the Chief Executive Officer to ‘take a [...]
When Opposites Detract
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com There are lessons to learn from listening to what people say – and sometimes those lessons go well beyond what has been said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some 90% plus Americans say they believe in heaven and hell. That corrosive Zoroastrian legacy leaches into their civil society and world view. I [...]
December 8, 2014
The Passion Quest – Finding Your Center
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com Finding your path starts with finding your center. The hard truth is that other people are of little help on that inward journey of discovery. You have to do the heavy lifting yourself before you can finally meet the person you really are. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My life coaching engagements [...]
Leadership Coaching – High Impact Support
Dr. Earl R. Smith II DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com Dr-Smith.com My leadership coaching practice is the source of great satisfaction and great frustration. Leadership is always easier to explain leadership than to practice it. If it becomes difficult for an organization to achieve objectives and remain focused, a close examination of the leadership styles of the senior management [...]
