First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠

Hosted by Timothy Dean Smith, First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host

Business Management Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to First-Time Leaders Accelerated ℠ . Leading people is the most important responsibility in the world, yet 60% of first-time leaders fail. The good news? It's preventable. Incorrect leader selection distresses your people, increases your operating costs, and erodes your culture experience. Drawing on more than four decades of transforming leaders, I share concise, practical solutions you can apply immediately to become a more effective people-centered leader. This podcast is for first-time leaders and those responsible for hiring, selecting, and developing them. I'm Timothy Dean Smith , your host and coach. Each month, we'll solve a leader challenge together. If you find my podcast valuable, please share it with those responsible for hiring, selecting, and developing them. I help organizations select the right people and prepare them to successfully transition into people-centered leaders for a lifetime. Are the right people leading your people? If you're not completely confident in your answer, I invite you to visit tdspi.com and Click on Meet Me . Let's have a "get to know each other" conversation. Until next time, remember, leading people is not just another responsibility. It is the most important responsibility in the world. Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated ℠ Podcast. Take care.

Listen to episodes

33 recent

July 31, 2026Episode 77 min

Contagious Performance Improvement℠

"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 . Support the show Timothy Dean Smith First-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Host www.tdspi.com tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

July 1, 2026Episode 69 min

Leader Transition: Your First 3 Months and Beyond

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

June 5, 2026Episode 510 min

Critical KPIs Most People Miss

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

May 1, 2026Episode 46 min

Leader "Fix-it" Obsession: Being the Hero Hurts

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

April 1, 2026Episode 36 min

Peer to Leader: It's Not a Promotion

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

February 27, 2026Episode 26 min

Leader Illusion: You Can Feel It

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

January 30, 2026Episode 16 min

First-Time Leader: We See You, Different

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

July 31, 2025Episode 77 min

Self-Leadership - One of Four Leader Prerequisites

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

June 30, 2025Episode 66 min

Trained to Lead People - One of Four Leader Prerequisites

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

May 30, 2025Episode 55 min

Inspiration - One of Four Leader Prerequisites

"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 tds@tdspi.com (607) 221-6191 Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.