Dr. Earl R. Smith II

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

My work with boards - both for-profit and non-profit - often involves an assessment of a search for new leadership. Strong, focused leadership is an essential part of any organizational success. This is as true for boards of directors as it is for senior management teams. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

General liability insurance coverage will not cover claims for errors and omission and neither general liability nor errors and omission policies will cover mismanagement or director misconduct. Businesses operating without any one of these types of policies are seriously under insured. Boards of directors should provide errors and omission policies as well as directors and officers policies as a protection to the stockholders of the company, as protection from personal liability for themselves and as a tool for the Succession committee to use in the recruitment of new directors to the board. Most seasoned executives insist on being covered by directors and officers policies and errors and omissions policies prior to agreeing to serve on the board. No matter how much a person believes in the company, the organization or the strategic plan, they should not be asked to risk their personal assets in service to the organization. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

For the successful executive, the learning process never stops. The world itself is a school and we learn daily. Acquaintances, colleagues and adversaries teach us lessons about how to succeed in life. Occasionally we have the good luck to meet an enlightened person who takes the time to teach us. A major part of my coaching practice involves just such teaching. Some call it mentoring - others leadership coaching - I refer to it as success coaching because it contributes to the ability of my clients to lead a more successful and fuller life. Success coaching involves finding a guide who supports you to bring along the great journey of discovery that is life. With such support, you gradually come to realize your capability, resourcefulness and personal genius. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.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 best in the manager - and that helps the manager bring out the best in their team. Qualities that a manager should have and be able to imbue in his team are those that enable his employees to prosper and perform productively. Through the assistance of an executive leadership coach, these skills are nurtured and refined. Here are some of the areas that I work on with clients in my coaching practice: Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

Leadership is a critical factor in the functioning of a well-organized board of directors. Every board (organization) should strive to diversify the composition and have overlapping layers of expertise to call upon in any given situation. Good governance stresses the need for each director to attend seminars to enhance their leadership development skills. CEO’s engage their senior managers in one-on-one and peer-to-peer coaching programs to prepare for an orderly transition of power. Succession committees meet regularly to identify future talent and future skills the company will need to train or recruit for as the company moves through the business cycle. All of these efforts address the issue of leadership. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

Board of director responsibilities are increasingly being scrutinized in the face a new round of financial mismanagement and high profile corporate failures. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attempted to address many issues to inhibit corporate finance mismanagement, however many corporations did not correctly align directors pay with both appropriate corporate financial management and with reaching the corporation’s strategic goals. Corporate director’s actions, loyalties, corporate director pay, and ethics are being reviewed. This process is driven by issues raised by Congress and the media. Read the rest of this entry »