"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

Today, I will to introduce you to a concept I pioneered that has become the goal of everything I teach, coach, and speak about: Contagious Performance Improvement℠.

Are the right people leading your people? If you're not completely confident in your answer, I invite you to register for my complimentary Executive Discovery Session, and let's find out together.

Discovery Session Registration

If you need assistance assessing and accelerating the transformation and transition of first-time leaders, Click Meet Me or visit tdspi.com.

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Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

In this episode I focus on the first 3 months of your leader transition phase. Your first 3 months are about positioning yourself as the right people-centered leader. I call the first 3 months the Listening, Learning, and Leading Tour. This tour is critical for the first 3 months but should continue daily.

Are the right people leading your people? If you're not completely confident in your answer, I invite you to join my free executive discovery session, July 14, 2026, and find out. Click "Free Discovery Session" to save your virtual seat.

If you need assistance assessing and accelerating the transformation and transition of first-time leaders, Click Meet Me or visit tdspi.com.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

There are three types of KPIs. Two measure results and one shapes your team and culture. KPIs help prevent blind spots. Ironically, the most important of these KPIs, are the ones most organizations miss.

If you need assistance assessing and accelerating the transformation and transition of first-time leaders, Click Meet Me or visit tdspi.com.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

A common pitfall for first-time leaders is, the "Fix-it" Obsession. I will explain why "rescuing" your team often leads to burnout for you and stagnation for them. You attempt to be the hero, but you become a bottleneck, holding your team back.

If you need assistance assessing and accelerating the transformation and transition of first-time leaders, Click Meet Me or visit tdspi.com.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

Often when a peer is select to lead their current team, the process is mistakenly viewed as a promotion, when it’s actually a career transformation and transition.

If you need assistance of a first-time leader trainer, coach and/or dysfunctional culture improvement, click here, schedule our "get to know each other" conversation.

Treat people like they make a difference and they will.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

This episode is about recognizing and taking the first step to correct Leader Illusion.

If you think you’re leading but feel like no one is following, your initial instinct is usually right. You are probably experiencing leader illusion. People may give you the illusion they are following you, because they must, due to your title, formal authority and your control of their professional destiny. This is leader Illusion.

If you need assistance with leader development and/or dysfunctional culture improvement, click here, schedule our "get to know each other" conversation.

Treat people like they make a difference and they will.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

This episode is about how others see you differently, when you transition from an individual performer to first-time leader. I will be focusing on what I believe is the most important leader skill, Self-Leadership. Self-leadership is a fancy way of describing how you lead your life. Often, the most difficult person to lead, is yourself.

If you need assistance with Leader Development and/or Dysfunctional Culture Improvement, click on schedule our "get to know each other" conversation.

Treat people like they make a difference and they will.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

This episode will be my final episode of 2025. I will be focusing on what I believe is the most important leader skill, Self-Leadership. Self-leadership is a fancy way of describing how you lead your life. Often, the most difficult person to lead, is yourself.

If you need a Leadership Speaker or you need help with Leader Development and/or Culture Improvement, visit tdspi.com and Click on Meet Me.

I look forward to our "get to know each other" conversation.

Treat people like they make a difference and they will.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

Often leader candidates don’t receive proper people-centered leader training? You can learn to be a leader in a classroom, but you can’t become a leader in the classroom. There is a huge difference between learning leader skills and experiencing them. You can’t teach experience. Once you are trained, you need to gain experience on your own. You must get in the game!

If you need a Leadership Speaker or you need help with Leader Development and/or Culture Improvement, visit tdspi.com and Click on Meet Me.

I look forward to our "get to know each other" conversation.

Treat people like they make a difference and they will.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."

If the leader candidate is lacking one or more of the four prerequisites, the candidate should not be promoted to a leader role. Doing so would be a recipe for failure, not to mention, create a lot of distress and loss of money. It is okay for the leader candidate to remain an individual performer.

If you need a Leadership Speaker or you need help with Leader Development and/or Culture Improvement, visit tdspi.com and Click on Meet Me.

I look forward to our "get to know each other" conversation.

Treat people like they make a difference and they will.

Support the show

Timothy Dean Smith
First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host
www.tdspi.com
[email protected]
(607) 221-6191

Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.