Pursue What Matters

Episode 114: Ownership - The Second Pillar of Accountability

As a leader, you have the responsibility to identify what the work is and why it matters. Clear process frameworks go a long way in establishing accountability for team members and keeping leaders out of micromanagement.  Responsibility as the first pillar of accountability was the topic of last week's podcast. Click here to listen if you missed it. 

But accountability is a two-way street. The second pillar of accountability is ownership. Team members must own change, roles, responsibilities and tasks within process frameworks. Team members play a vital role for identifying how the work is accomplished while the framework clarified what needs to be done and why it matters. 

Join me on the podcast to understand how ownership strengthens motivation and autonomy among team members.  

Show Notes available at:

https://drmelissasmith.com/ownershippillar/

Episode 113: Responsibility - The First Pillar of Accountability

Accountability is one of the least fun, yet most important things that leaders and teams need to collaborate on. A team without strong communication and accountability will struggle to work through difficulties together.

But what makes up accountability?

There are two very important pillars of accountability. First, the responsibility of the leader to structure the accountability process. Second, is ownership on the part of team members for the change, process, or task.

Both of these pillars are incredibly important. This week I'll be focusing on pillar number one, your responsibility as a leader. Next week I'll focus on pillar two. I hope you'll join me as I help you see the responsibility you have as a leader to create a system and culture of accountability, and as I teach you how to improve that system.

Show notes available at: 

https://drmelissasmith.com/responsibilitypillar/

Episode 112: Top 10 Summer Reads

It’s summer! It’s time to wind down, go on some vacations, and enjoy the beautiful weather. If you’ve listened to the podcast at all, you’ll know that one of my favorite ways to wind down is by reading a good book. 

For this month’s book review, I’m doing things a little different. Because it’s summer, I’m going to take a break from reviewing a business book and instead I have some great summer reads to get you out of the office and into relaxation mode. 

In this week’s episode I have ten excellent books from different genres, all designed to help you lean into summer relaxation. These are books that I have personally read and can highly recommend. They cover a wide range of topics from nonfiction to mystery to spirituality., and are perfect for getting you out of your head and into a great story. Whatever your interests, I’m guessing there’s something on this list for you. 

To go with the podcast, I’ve created a free downloadable resource, Top 10 Summer Reads, that will summarize each of the books discussed in this episode. This is the perfect guide to take with you to the library or bookstore. 

Show notes available at:

https://drmelissasmith.com/2021summerreads/

Episode 111: Braving Trust

Most of us agree that trust is vital for the success of any team. On the last episode of the podcast I broke down two of the biggest issues that so many struggle with when it comes to trust. These issues are all or nothing trust, and believing trust is won in big moments and grand gestures. Hopefully after last week's episode you can see how these trust issues get in the way of us being able to build and maintain trust, (P.S. click here if you haven't listened to the episode yet). This week on the podcast I’m going to provide you with specific, actionable ways to cultivate trust at work. And the good news is that these skills are just as effective at home. 

Trust isn't easy, it certainly takes a lot of work, but it's more than just work, it takes an understanding of what trust is made up of. This week I’ll be introducing you to an excellent tool, the BRAVING Trust Inventory, which includes seven keys to building trust over time. These keys aren’t difficult to understand, but they require three things. First, attention or an understanding of the trust-building keys and why they matter. Second, intention to utilize the keys to strengthen the team and outcomes. And third, consistent action and communication using the keys. 

These principles are parts of Brené Brown's Dare to Lead research. This groundbreaking research is what I will be basing this episode of the podcast on. I hope you'll join me as I help you to apply these principles of trust in your love and work.

Show notes and other resources available at:

https://drmelissasmith.com/bravingtrust/

Episode 110: Are You Making These Trust Mistakes?

It’s safe to say that trust is one of the most important things. You know intuitively that trust is vital in your relationships, whether at home or work. Despite the near universal agreement that trust is important, you and I so often struggle to build trust at work. Why is that?

Like most things in life, our issues with trust most often come from misunderstandings. Misunderstandings about what trust is, the role it has in our relationships, and how to build it. 

On this episode of the podcast I’m going to dive into two specific mistakes that come up with trust. I’ll help you recognize how these problems may be showing up in your life and discuss why these issues can undermine trust-building. Stay tuned because next week I will be giving you super specific solutions for building trust with your team.

Show notes available at:

https://drmelissasmith.com/trustmistakes/

Episode 109: Ready to Scale? You Need this Map

 

It’s time my friend. You’ve assessed where you’re at with your business, looked at your market, and you are ready to scale your business. So now what? 

Deciding to grow in the face of uncertainty is a big decision, and if you’re anything like me, this decision can be long and painful. There are so many unknowns, there are so many risks. But, once you’ve made the decision, it’s time to take action. Where do you start? What do you need to do first? Who do you need to help power growth? 

These questions and more are not yours alone. Because of that, this episode of the podcast is going to help you map out the process of growth. I’ve got a simple, streamlined process to help you assess the next steps in your growth process. 

I hope you’ll join me for this podcast as I help you find solutions that are effective and efficient. But more than that, I hope after this podcast you will feel more confident that you can take the next step to scale growth.

Show notes available at:

www.drmelissasmith.com/scalingmap

Episode 108: Business Made Simple Book Review

Leading a team or business can be so challenging. There are so many details to figure out, factors to consider, and as soon as you find something that works, the landscape changes. Learning the fine line between managing but not micromanaging, of being creative without driving clients and customers away, and thousands of other issues that make up a day in the life of a leader, it’s a lot!

But what if there was a way to make it simpler? What if someone could break down the most important lessons in business down to some simple, bite-sized pages in a book? Well that's what Donald Miller does in his great book, Business Made Simple: 60 Days to Master Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Execution, Management, Personal Productivity, and More. 

Today’s podcast reviews Business Made Simple. This book is all about practical skills and key characteristics to help you lead more effectively. I’ll discuss the some of Miller’s keys to being a Value-Driven Professional, including:

• Communication
• Leadership
• Negotiation
• Sales
• Character
• Marketing

...And a whole lot more. I’ll also be sharing with you why some have said that this simple little book is more valuable than a business degree. I hope you'll join me for this fantastic book!

Check out the show notes at:

https://drmelissasmith.com/businessmadesimple/

Episode 107: 3 Questions for Scaling Growth

Grow or die. This common adage in the world of business is true now more than ever as we come back from the pandemic. Last week’s podcast was focused on helping you see how vital growth is to not only your success, but also your survival as a business. 

This week I want to help you simplify the process of growth with three simple questions that will help you focus on your needs and next steps for scaling growth. How do you delegate effectively? What do you delegate? Who does what on a team and what roles do you need as you scale growth? Answering these questions will help you simplify growth and kick overwhelm to the curb. Where you’re expanding your team, moving into new markets, or adding product lines, this podcast will help you know what questions to ask--and answer--in order to scale growth.

Show notes available at:

www.drmelissasmith.com/scalinggrowth

 

Episode 106: Are You Thinking Too Small?

Did you know that 70% of businesses fail before ever reaching 10 years? 20% of these businesses don't even make it through the first year. Starting a business is difficult, but who knew it was that difficult? In a world full of hard workers, great resources, and opportunity, why are so many businesses failing?

There are certainly a multitude of reasons for each business failing from poor finances to lack of planning to unfriendly market conditions. But today I want to focus on a key reason so many businesses fail and it’s one you might not want to think about: thinking too small.

Once you’ve made it through the very fragile initial years in business, you may feel like you have time to take a breath and relax just a little. But this way of thinking is what leads so many businesses to fail. A business that isn’t prioritizing growth, and actually growing, will likely not make it to year 10. 

Today I want to make the case for scaling your business and team. What are the risks? What tools do you need? And what mindset will ensure your business is thriving for the long run? I’ll give you the tools you need to reset your focus and prioritize growth.

Show notes available at:

https://drmelissasmith.com/thinkingsmall/

Episode 105: Are You A Giver?

Are you a giver? In your efforts to be a good friend and team member, do you often find others relying on your perspective, problem-solving, and compassion? When you and I give like this, we are often highly valued by those around us, but how is all that giving working out for you personally? It turns out that givers are at greater risk for burnout, unbalanced relationships, and resentment.

But it’s not a foregone conclusion that being a giver will deplete. This week’s podcast is focused on helping you find balance as a giver. Givers who have balance in their giving and receiving reap all the incredible benefits of sharing what they have  while not dealing with the costs of imbalance. 

This week I’ll talk about how to be a giver, while still working towards and achieving your goals. I’ll talk about balancing roles, boundaries, and expectations with those around you. I’ll also help you see if you’re relying too much on a giver in your own life. I hope you’ll join me.

Show notes and other resources available at:

www.drmelissasmith.com/giver