First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠

Hosted by Timothy Dean Smith, Leadership Speaker, Coach and Podcast Host

Business Management Education

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Leading people is the most important responsibility in the world, yet, alarmingly, 60% of first-time leaders fail. With over 4 decades of experience in leader development and culture improvement, I created this podcast to help you solve 3 critical and costly people problems: 1. Endangered People Skills: The Communication Paradox 2. Peer to Leader, Now What? 3. Sunday Feelings About Monday Mornings If you’re a first-time leader, someone who hires or promotes first-time leaders or a solopreneur building your first team, this is your podcast. I’m Timothy Dean Smith, your host & coach. Monthly, from January through July, I’ll offer you concise, practical solutions you can apply immediately and benefit from for a lifetime. If you find my solutions valuable, share this podcast with your collages, wherever they listen to podcasts. Leading people is the most important responsibility in the world and I’m here to ensure your leadership matters. Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated ℠ Podcast. Take care. 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.

Listen to episodes

31 recent

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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

May 1, 2025Episode 45 min

Caring - One of Four Leader Prerequisites

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."To be a great people-centered leader, you must genuinely care FOR and ABOUT people. You need to do both.1.Caring FOR people is doing something for their well-being and helping them grow. It’s something you do to demonstrate you care for those you lead.2.Caring ABOUT people is being emotionally concerned about their well-being and growth. It’s a feeling you have for them.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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.

March 31, 2025Episode 39 min

Technology Timeout Tips and More

"Send me a text message and let me know what you think of the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast."We live in an “always on” and “always connected” world. We expect instant gratification, either accessing information or receiving a response.Are you prepared to lead people? Find OutIf 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 showTimothy Dean SmithFirst-Time Leader Accelerator | Coach | Podcast Hostwww.tdspi.comtds@tdspi.com(607) 221-6191Thank you for listening to the First-Time Leaders Accelerated℠ Podcast.