https://rickbaker.ca/category/strengths-people-focused-for-success/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/leaders-make-sure-your-confidence-does-not-threaten-your-followers/https://rickbaker.ca/post/leaders-make-sure-your-confidence-does-not-threaten-your-followers/Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:27:00 -0500Some followers are intimidated by Leader's self-confidence. Here are some Spirited suggestions, to make sure you do not come across that way: Be authentic…it… https://rickbaker.ca/post/deliberate-practice-allows-talents-to-master-tasks-so-dont-allow-your-talents-to-wing-it/https://rickbaker.ca/post/deliberate-practice-allows-talents-to-master-tasks-so-dont-allow-your-talents-to-wing-it/Mon, 28 Jun 2021 07:35:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Take Talent To Task: Take Task To Talent. That's a lot better than taking weakness to tasks and taking tasks to people who are… https://rickbaker.ca/post/organized-people-get-work-done-disorganized-people-get-work-repeated/https://rickbaker.ca/post/organized-people-get-work-done-disorganized-people-get-work-repeated/Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:04:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Disorganization = more errors = more fixing of errors = repeated work. And, of course, disorganization consumes time and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-see-your-bosss-weaknesses-do-you-see-your-opportunities-opportunity/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-see-your-bosss-weaknesses-do-you-see-your-opportunities-opportunity/Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:13:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Many people complain about the boss. That's the norm. Few people realize the boss' weaknesses are prime routes to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-more-you-use-your-talents-the-harder-it-is-to-wear-them-out-talent/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-more-you-use-your-talents-the-harder-it-is-to-wear-them-out-talent/Sat, 22 May 2021 07:18:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet We struggle when we don't use our Talents ...many of us accept that struggling lot in life...and some of us embrace struggling… https://rickbaker.ca/post/our-intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-align-with-our-talents-strengthsso-they-inspire-they-energize-us/https://rickbaker.ca/post/our-intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-align-with-our-talents-strengthsso-they-inspire-they-energize-us/Wed, 19 May 2021 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Intrinsic Goals mesh with life purpose, mastery of task, and self-actualization. Naturally, intrinsic goals align with talents… https://rickbaker.ca/post/other-people-prefer-it-when-you-are-present-minded-rather-than-absent-minded-focus/https://rickbaker.ca/post/other-people-prefer-it-when-you-are-present-minded-rather-than-absent-minded-focus/Sun, 16 May 2021 07:52:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet 'Getting present' is a Focus exercise...a mind-process of narrowing and fixing attention. 'Staying present' is a Concentration… https://rickbaker.ca/post/self-knowledge-is-the-often-overlooked-success-ingredient-knowthyself/https://rickbaker.ca/post/self-knowledge-is-the-often-overlooked-success-ingredient-knowthyself/Wed, 12 May 2021 07:06:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet People who have a thorough understanding of themselves do better as business leaders. They understand their strengths and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-we-do-not-know-has-never-increased-so-quicklychoose-focusing-over-frettingchoose-to-use-talents/https://rickbaker.ca/post/what-we-do-not-know-has-never-increased-so-quicklychoose-focusing-over-frettingchoose-to-use-talents/Sun, 11 Apr 2021 07:11:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Alvin Toffler predicted it . Now, we're up to our ears in it. People are strong when they have talent, opportunity, knowledge… https://rickbaker.ca/post/good-followers-want-to-vent-their-strengths-and-you-want-to-see-strength-in-actionam-i-right/https://rickbaker.ca/post/good-followers-want-to-vent-their-strengths-and-you-want-to-see-strength-in-actionam-i-right/Wed, 07 Apr 2021 07:07:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Good followers want their talents, knowledge, and skills to be linked to opportunities . Good followers expect their leaders to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/sales-mastery-involves-a-clear-narrow-focusing-of-personal-strength-energy/https://rickbaker.ca/post/sales-mastery-involves-a-clear-narrow-focusing-of-personal-strength-energy/Sat, 03 Apr 2021 07:03:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet About Focusing on Personal Strengths About Personal Energy About Keeping Your Personal Energy Dry https://rickbaker.ca/post/talent-can-get-losteven-young-mozart-was-too-busy-playing-notes-to-focus-his-mind-on-quality-music/https://rickbaker.ca/post/talent-can-get-losteven-young-mozart-was-too-busy-playing-notes-to-focus-his-mind-on-quality-music/Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:03:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Apparently, even the greatest, including the child-prodigy composers, could get all wrapped up in their instruments and their… https://rickbaker.ca/post/willpower-is-about-converting-self-drive-into-purposeful-action/https://rickbaker.ca/post/willpower-is-about-converting-self-drive-into-purposeful-action/Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:46:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet If you have no definite purpose, no chief aim, no goals - then you have no need of willpower. Of course, your accomplishments… https://rickbaker.ca/post/discipline-is-the-only-remedy-for-wasted-talent-talent/https://rickbaker.ca/post/discipline-is-the-only-remedy-for-wasted-talent-talent/Sun, 14 Mar 2021 07:19:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When discipline is absent Talent is dormant, submerged, and wasted. That's why discipline is a good thing. Discipline serves a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/an-interview-or-performance-review-question-how-do-you-use-your-talents-to-expand-your-ability-to-influence-people/https://rickbaker.ca/post/an-interview-or-performance-review-question-how-do-you-use-your-talents-to-expand-your-ability-to-influence-people/Wed, 10 Mar 2021 07:25:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The Gallup folks have defined 4 Talent Domains for leadership: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, & Strategic… https://rickbaker.ca/post/talent-without-discipline-is-good-for-hobbies-but-not-for-businesses/https://rickbaker.ca/post/talent-without-discipline-is-good-for-hobbies-but-not-for-businesses/Sat, 06 Mar 2021 07:20:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Malcolm Gladwell [in his book, ' Outliers '] taught us, regardless of Talent, people need to spend at least 10,000 hours to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/battles-require-people-people-require-battles/https://rickbaker.ca/post/battles-require-people-people-require-battles/Sat, 13 Feb 2021 07:29:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet We all have heard it takes two to tango . Tango requires people...two. Battles require people... at least one . Battles are a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/choose-your-battles-well-choose-the-battles-that-align-with-your-talents-strengths/https://rickbaker.ca/post/choose-your-battles-well-choose-the-battles-that-align-with-your-talents-strengths/Fri, 12 Feb 2021 07:40:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Battles require people; people require battles. We all have heard it takes two to tango . Tango requires people...two. Battles… https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-didnt-see-the-financial-meltdown-coming-i-didnt-see-the-economic-recession-coming-i-do-see-some-things-now/https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-didnt-see-the-financial-meltdown-coming-i-didnt-see-the-economic-recession-coming-i-do-see-some-things-now/Sat, 30 Jan 2021 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Having been through those challenges , and rethinking business, I have a better picture of what we need to do to protect our… https://rickbaker.ca/post/ease-success-appears-easy-dis-ease-failure-happens-without-ease-or-appearance-of-easy/https://rickbaker.ca/post/ease-success-appears-easy-dis-ease-failure-happens-without-ease-or-appearance-of-easy/Wed, 27 Jan 2021 07:48:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When you fully engage your Talents & Strengths things happen with relative ease...and success follows. https://rickbaker.ca/post/intolerant-people-see-weaknesses-where-others-see-strengths-strength/https://rickbaker.ca/post/intolerant-people-see-weaknesses-where-others-see-strengths-strength/Sun, 17 Jan 2021 07:00:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The strongest of leaders seek out differences . They know differences capture all the talents & strengths . Work to your… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet Some think Leaders should provide followers latitude to do their work as they choose. Some think that’s the way to breed… https://rickbaker.ca/post/personal-strengths-desire-to-achieve-attitude-3-key-things-you-can-develop/https://rickbaker.ca/post/personal-strengths-desire-to-achieve-attitude-3-key-things-you-can-develop/Fri, 08 Jan 2021 07:55:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Lou Holtz, the famed Notre Dame football coach, said something like: "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation… https://rickbaker.ca/post/errors-only-become-limitations-when-we-choose-to-give-them-that-power/https://rickbaker.ca/post/errors-only-become-limitations-when-we-choose-to-give-them-that-power/Mon, 14 Dec 2020 07:19:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet We cannot practice when we don't know the what and how of task-details: we cannot teach when we don't know the what and how of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/leaders-do-best-when-it-is-clear-they-have-sacred-rules-which-we-call-the-master-rules/https://rickbaker.ca/post/leaders-do-best-when-it-is-clear-they-have-sacred-rules-which-we-call-the-master-rules/Fri, 11 Dec 2020 07:29:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Master Rules : these are rules set by the Leader and well-communicated by the Leader to all followers. The Master Rules must… https://rickbaker.ca/post/3-abilities-rise-above-all-others-intelligence-willpower-drive/https://rickbaker.ca/post/3-abilities-rise-above-all-others-intelligence-willpower-drive/Fri, 20 Nov 2020 07:00:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Every human being possesses the seeds of intelligence , willpower , and drive at birth. To a certain degree, and the degree… https://rickbaker.ca/post/an-ideal-way-to-help-people-show-them-how-to-disentangle-the-energy-and-power-they-naturally-possess/https://rickbaker.ca/post/an-ideal-way-to-help-people-show-them-how-to-disentangle-the-energy-and-power-they-naturally-possess/Thu, 19 Nov 2020 07:50:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Energy & Natural Talent: 2 things we all possess. But, we rarely experience people helping us put those 2 things to best use… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-influencing-powerful-people-3/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-influencing-powerful-people-3/Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:22:00 -0500Talking About Influencing Powerful People - here's another Dirk Schlimm quote: “What makes these geniuses so powerful is not ground-level expertise or… https://rickbaker.ca/post/sales-people-should-select-heroes-learn-from-them-and-emulate-their-talents-strengths/https://rickbaker.ca/post/sales-people-should-select-heroes-learn-from-them-and-emulate-their-talents-strengths/Sun, 08 Nov 2020 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet I see better ways of approaching Sales. For example... Sales people can and should learn from ‘heroes’...as many as possible… https://rickbaker.ca/post/talents-tend-to-bounce-off-tasks-they-do-not-like-talent/https://rickbaker.ca/post/talents-tend-to-bounce-off-tasks-they-do-not-like-talent/Mon, 02 Nov 2020 07:46:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Consider Talents . Consider Tasks . Don't fight the fit. https://rickbaker.ca/post/a-true-sense-of-urgency-thats-doing-things-promptly-when-you-know-the-right-things-to-do-and-you-know-how-to-do-them-well/https://rickbaker.ca/post/a-true-sense-of-urgency-thats-doing-things-promptly-when-you-know-the-right-things-to-do-and-you-know-how-to-do-them-well/Fri, 23 Oct 2020 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Anything shy of this isn't a successful sense of urgency. Anything shy of this is guesswork, bad planning, or fighting phantom… https://rickbaker.ca/post/most-people-dont-notice-they-are-problem-magnets-attracting-an-ongoing-series-of-similar-problems/https://rickbaker.ca/post/most-people-dont-notice-they-are-problem-magnets-attracting-an-ongoing-series-of-similar-problems/Sun, 18 Oct 2020 07:18:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Many of us don't see the problems coming let alone see we are the specialists who create them. For some people - problems get… https://rickbaker.ca/post/everyone-wants-to-use-personal-strengths-to-create-value-and-observe-others-confirming-appreciation-of-that-value/https://rickbaker.ca/post/everyone-wants-to-use-personal-strengths-to-create-value-and-observe-others-confirming-appreciation-of-that-value/Thu, 08 Oct 2020 07:15:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Now, I suppose a few people do their best work and have no expectation that it will be appreciated by others. If those people… https://rickbaker.ca/post/perfectionists-show-us-how-natural-talents-can-create-bad-habits-that-out-muscle-willpower/https://rickbaker.ca/post/perfectionists-show-us-how-natural-talents-can-create-bad-habits-that-out-muscle-willpower/Mon, 05 Oct 2020 07:06:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Attention to Detail is a valuable leadership tool...unless it takes over its owner. Too much of a Good Habit = a Bad Habit… https://rickbaker.ca/post/learning-from-practice-makes-perfect-learning-is-the-essence-of-mastery/https://rickbaker.ca/post/learning-from-practice-makes-perfect-learning-is-the-essence-of-mastery/Sat, 26 Sep 2020 07:41:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet There's an old saying, "Practice makes perfect". There's a newer saying, "Perfect practice makes perfect". And I say, "Learning… https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-muddle-through-the-same-old-problems-engage-talents-and-address-new-more-lucrative-problems-2020/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-muddle-through-the-same-old-problems-engage-talents-and-address-new-more-lucrative-problems-2020/Sat, 05 Sep 2020 07:51:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Some people muddle thought the same old business problems - day after day. [Often, 'people problems'.] These people experience… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-cannot-force-a-round-talent-into-a-square-task/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-cannot-force-a-round-talent-into-a-square-task/Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:32:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet "A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape." Mark Twain And… https://rickbaker.ca/post/self-discipline-brings-out-the-value-embedded-in-talent-self-discipline-talent/https://rickbaker.ca/post/self-discipline-brings-out-the-value-embedded-in-talent-self-discipline-talent/Mon, 24 Aug 2020 07:12:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet When discipline is absent Talent is dormant, submerged, and wasted. That's why discipline is a good thing. Discipline serves a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-value-of-putting-individuals-talents-strengths-to-work-at-work/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-value-of-putting-individuals-talents-strengths-to-work-at-work/Sun, 02 Aug 2020 07:10:00 -0500Overall, the value of strengths-based business can be summed up in terms of increased engagement and improved motivation, which leads to increased profit… https://rickbaker.ca/post/focusing-on-peoples-strengths-helps-them-feel-more-engaged-motivated-which-leads-to-increased-profit/https://rickbaker.ca/post/focusing-on-peoples-strengths-helps-them-feel-more-engaged-motivated-which-leads-to-increased-profit/Wed, 22 Jul 2020 07:22:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet How does that lead to more profit? If you can help people feel more engaged and motivated about their work, then: they are… https://rickbaker.ca/post/up-skill-the-hands-that-use-your-finest-business-tools-make-master-craftsmanship-a-top-priority-2020/https://rickbaker.ca/post/up-skill-the-hands-that-use-your-finest-business-tools-make-master-craftsmanship-a-top-priority-2020/Tue, 07 Jul 2020 07:40:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Failure isn't caused by lack of talent, it's caused by discouraged thoughts and words. Practice makes perfect. If it's worth… https://rickbaker.ca/post/work-performances-are-mirrored-in-work-feelings-work-feelings-are-windows-to-talents-strengths/https://rickbaker.ca/post/work-performances-are-mirrored-in-work-feelings-work-feelings-are-windows-to-talents-strengths/Sat, 04 Jul 2020 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet As a rule, you don't see happy faces when people are struggling with their work. As a rule, you don't see unhappy faces when… https://rickbaker.ca/post/strong-leaders-excel-at-using-their-talents-knowledge-and-skills-strong-leaders-influence-others-to-do-that-same-thing/https://rickbaker.ca/post/strong-leaders-excel-at-using-their-talents-knowledge-and-skills-strong-leaders-influence-others-to-do-that-same-thing/Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:20:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Strength = Innate Talent [as signalled by STRENGTHSFINDER Top 5 Talent Themes] + Opportunity [which leaders are obligated to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/using-talent-and-venting-strengthsthats-self-expression-at-its-best/https://rickbaker.ca/post/using-talent-and-venting-strengthsthats-self-expression-at-its-best/Sat, 20 Jun 2020 07:16:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Talents + Opportunities + Specialized Knowledge + Practiced Skills = Personal Strengths Venting our Personal Strengths - that's… https://rickbaker.ca/post/intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-inspire-they-energize/https://rickbaker.ca/post/intrinsic-goals-feel-rightthey-inspire-they-energize/Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:51:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Intrinsic Goals envision life purpose, mastery of task, and self-actualization. Naturally, intrinsic goals align with talents… https://rickbaker.ca/post/talents-are-not-what-we-do-talents-are-the-substances-that-define-us-and-make-us-unique-talent/https://rickbaker.ca/post/talents-are-not-what-we-do-talents-are-the-substances-that-define-us-and-make-us-unique-talent/Tue, 07 Jan 2020 07:33:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Talents are the numbers of our personal combination lock; talents are the keys to our desires and action-drivers. Talents stand… https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-8/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-8/Sat, 16 Mar 2019 07:50:00 -0500Here's another quote, taken from Dirk Schlimm's book - “The terms balance and restraint rarely come up as descriptors of powerful people or are cited as… https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-7/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-7/Sat, 09 Mar 2019 07:32:00 -0500Dirk Schlimm wrote: “The tremendous energy of powerful people is sustained by a deep-rooted drive to succeed, especially against the odds and in the face of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-5/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-5/Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:29:00 -0500For a month now, I have been writing short thought posts sharing quotes from Dirk Schlimm, who will be CFFB 's special guest and keynote speaker on April… https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-are-too-tolerant-of-conflict/https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-are-too-tolerant-of-conflict/Mon, 29 May 2017 07:57:00 -0500Are you better off following prescribed step-by-step conflict resolution processes designed by 'the experts' or drawing on your innate talents to resolve…