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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Tag Archives: margaret smith career coach

October 16, 2024 Acknowledging Your Strengths (and knowing when to delegate)

As a licensed practitioner of Insights® Discovery, I know how vitally important it is to understand and tap into your personal strengths. Though you might have a sense of your skills and interests, naming them can be powerful. This helps to crystallize your self-awareness and give you a clearer picture of how you can best contribute.

Once you’ve identified your strengths, you can determine which tasks and responsibilities you’re uniquely suited for, and which ones might be better delegated to others. This allows you to focus your energy on your areas of excellence, while empowering your team members to shine in their own ways. Striking this balance is one of the keys to effective leadership and personal fulfillment.

However, many of us are hesitant to delegate for a variety of reasons. We might think we can do a task better or quicker than someone else, or we could be hesitant to give up that control, or we might simply not trust our team members to handle it properly. But when we hold on too tightly, we end up overworked and overwhelmed. Delegating frees up your time and energy to focus on your most important priorities. It also empowers your team, allowing them to develop new skills and take on greater responsibilities.

To get past hesitations or mental barriers related to delegation, I suggest the following:

Identify Tasks to Delegate

It is helpful to be crystal clear on which tasks you enjoy and have time to do versus the tasks that are better delegated to others. Make a list of the responsibilities you can hand off, considering your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your team’s capabilities. This will help you determine what to delegate and to whom.

Reach Out Intentionally

Not everyone is suited for every task. If you’re considering delegating something, make sure to reach out to the proper person. Ask yourself if that person has the skills, interest, and bandwidth to take on the task. If not, you may need to find someone else OR allow that person additional time to complete the job at hand.

Communicate Expectations Clearly

When delegating tasks, be sure to provide clear instructions and set expectations upfront. Explain the desired outcome, timeline, and any specific requirements. This ensures your team members understand exactly what is expected of them.

Provide Support

An effective leader makes sure to provide support and guidance as needed. Check in regularly, offer feedback, and be available to answer questions. This helps team members feel empowered and confident in their ability to complete the delegated tasks successfully. Though you may need to be available for questions and support quite a bit at first, your team member should gain more confidence and adeptness with repeat tasks over time.

Review Progress and Provide Feedback

Schedule regular check-ins to review the delegated work. Offer constructive feedback and be available to answer questions or provide guidance. This shows your team members that you trust them, while also maintaining quality control. Over time, you can reduce the level of oversight as they gain confidence and competence.

Express Appreciation

Do not underestimate the power of a thank you. If your team members have done a great job with the delegated tasks, be sure to express your sincere appreciation. This positive reinforcement will encourage them to continue taking on more responsibilities and growing in their roles. For especially impressive work, consider providing a hand-written thank you card or gift card to express your gratitude.

Effective delegation is a skill that takes practice, but the benefits are immense. By empowering your team, you free up your own time and energy to focus on your strengths and highest priorities. This, in turn, can lead to greater productivity, job satisfaction, and overall success for both you and your organization.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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October 2, 2024 Letting Go of Perfection: Embracing Trial and Error

Many of us are terrified to fail. Whether we’re taking on a new project, giving a presentation, starting a new hobby, or making a major transition, the fear of failure can stop us in our tracks and prevent us from fully taking on the endeavor. But what would happen if we didn’t worry so much about failure? What if we embraced the idea that trial and error is just fine?

How Trial and Error Spurs Innovation

By letting go of the fear of failure, we open ourselves to new possibilities and opportunities for growth. We free ourselves to go out on a limb, get creative, or take paths we might not normally take. This is how innovation and growth happen—when our comfort zones are stretched and we’re willing to explore the unknown.

Embracing trial and error allows us to experiment, learn, and refine our approach. Even if we don’t get it right the first time, each attempt provides valuable feedback and brings us closer to our goal. By letting go of the need for perfection, we can focus on the journey and find joy in the process.

Ultimately, trial and error is not only a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, but also a way to spur innovation, find creative solutions, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. By being open to failure and embracing the learning process, we can unlock new avenues for success and discover unexpected breakthroughs.

What Happens When You Fail?

Failure is a natural part of the human existence, and most of the time we can bounce back from these minor setbacks. Unless you are a NASA scientist or a surgeon, you likely have some room for error! If a presentation is flat or your idea flops, it is usually possible to use these moments as learning experiences. Rather than viewing a failure as an excuse to give up, try reframing it as an opportunity—a chance to grow, learn, and rethink the road ahead.

When you adopt this type of “opportunity thinking,” you can start to see failures as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. Each misstep provides valuable feedback and a chance to refine your approach. By embracing this mindset, you can turn failures into fuel for growth and use them to propel you forward, rather than letting them hold you back. With a willingness to experiment and learn from your mistakes, you open the door to new discoveries and breakthroughs that may have been inaccessible had you played it safe.

When my coaching and speaking business was brand new, I was willing to take on all types of projects, clients, and assignments, even if I suspected they were not the best fit. This allowed me a chance to experiment, to figure out where I thrived and where I fell short. Furthermore, it gave me the opportunity to build my skills, gain experience, and better understand my ideal clients and offerings. While some of those early projects were not a perfect match, they provided invaluable lessons that ultimately helped me refine my business and find greater success. By embracing trial and error, I was able to iterate, improve, and discover new avenues for growth that may have remained hidden had I played it safe from the start.

Keep in mind, mistakes and missteps are not signs of weakness, but rather opportunities to learn and improve. When we approach life with a willingness to experiment and try new things, we cultivate a mindset of curiosity and resilience that can serve us well in all aspects of our lives. Instead of fearing the unknown, let’s approach it with curiosity and a willingness to experiment, secure in the knowledge that even our missteps can lead us to greater achievements.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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July 17, 2024 Taking the Leap: Overcoming Fear of Change

In some situations, you will never be one-hundred-percent, fully ready. This applies to both our personal lives (getting married, starting a family, moving to a new city or state) and professional lives (asking for a promotion, switching jobs or career paths, accepting a new role). In these cases, the path of least resistance might be to do nothing—to carry on with life as usual. If we constantly do this, however, we miss opportunities to grow, and we could miss out on some of life’s greatest adventures and rewards.

But I do understand that change can be difficult. It can push us far out of our comfort zones, challenge us in all kinds of ways, and force us to pivot or adapt. We might have to change our familiar routines or deeply ingrained habits. Or we might have to learn a variety of new skills, meet new people, or familiarize ourselves with new systems or places. This is all tough stuff, but as the saying goes, “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”

When you’re considering whether to make a potentially life-altering change, it can be helpful to take a few steps.

Prepare as Best as You Can

Though it is nearly impossible to prepare for all outcomes of a major change, you can undertake whatever preparations you can. Parenting is a great example of this. Although you’ll never be able to predict every challenge you’ll face or every difficulty, you can still make plenty of preparations by reading parenting books, designing a suitable nursery, establishing a pediatrician, talking with other parents, and more. In the workplace, you can prepare for a new role by researching the company, understanding the expectations, and seeking guidance from colleagues who have previously held similar positions. By arming yourself with knowledge and support, you can increase your confidence in taking on these new challenges.

Keep the Benefits in Mind

While you’re in the thick of the “tough stuff” associated with any major life change, you might question your decision or wish you had done things differently. However, it is much more motivating and empowering to focus on the benefits of your new situation. Think about things such as:

  • Personal growth (that you have or will experience)
  • New opportunities
  • Exciting adventures and rewards
  • Developing new skills and relationships
  • Learning and adapting to new environments
  • Finding deeper fulfillment and satisfaction
  • Gaining confidence and resilience
  • Appreciating the journey and the lessons learned
  • Building a sense of purpose and direction through new experiences

When you focus on these benefits, you’re more likely to be excited and motivated by the change. This will help to propel you forward.

Don’t Wait Around for “Perfect”

The truth is, situations are rarely perfect. The time may not ever be quite right to move to a new city, for example, or start a new career path. Even so, it doesn’t serve you (or your long-term goals and dreams) to wait around, since the perfect moment may never come. Embrace the idea that there will always be some level of uncertainty or discomfort when making a significant change. Instead of waiting for everything to align perfectly, focus on your readiness to adapt and grow through the process. Take the plunge, knowing that facing challenges head-on is essential for personal and professional development.

Remember, it’s okay to feel nervous or unsure when facing significant changes. If you prepare as best you can, focus on the benefits, and make peace with a little risk-taking, that can help ease your transition and set you up for success. Embracing change is about taking calculated risks, being open to new experiences, and understanding that growth often comes from stepping outside of our comfort zones. Change may be challenging, but it also presents opportunities for personal and professional development that can enrich our lives in ways we never imagined.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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