C. Lee Smith
The Executive Coach for Entrepreneurs
Lee transforms founders
into effective growth-stage CEOs.
The notion that founders make terrible CEOs is one of the most misleading myths in business. In reality, the strengths needed to build something from scratch are not a detriment; they're simply a different starting point for the next stage of your business.
While founders solve today's problems, CEOs anticipate tomorrow's obstacles — demanding accountability at scale, building profit, and inspiring people far beyond the sphere of direct influence. Simply stated, what got you here won't get you there. Moving from founder to CEO requires embracing a different mindset and developing new skills to scale yourself and your business.
C. Lee Smith uses his 35 years of experience to help founders make this leap. Using a mix of data-driven insights and human-focused coaching, he transforms vision and tactical talent into executive leadership — building the mindset, skillset, and credibility required to thrive at the top. Let's talk!
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Lee uses his experience as a successful founder-CEO, AI and the latest research in his leadership consulting. He advises leaders on building high-performing teams, executive presence and personal branding. Lee is the co-host of the Manage Smarter show interviewing hundreds of CEOs and consultants.
EXECUTIVE CREDIBILITY
Lee's latest research focuses on how the credibility of the CEO and department managers impacts employee motivation and performance. Lee helps build the personal brand of emerging leaders that is critical for success with their teams, key clientele and external company partners.
WORKFORCE ANALYTICS
Lee is the creator of the TeamTrait™ workforce analytics platform. This diagnostic assessment tool used worldwide by emerging companies in financial services, health care, technology, and other verticals to assess team strengths, identify skill gaps and navigate difficult conversations.
Lee develops your high potentials into high performers and managers into leaders.
C. Lee Smith is a Certified Behavioral Analyst specializing in workforce management and professional mindset. He is also certified in individual motivators and axiology (the study of values and beliefs). With 30 years of leadership and management experience, Lee uses analytics and curiosity to identify how each team member thinks, how they get in their own way, and what points them toward the exits.
Lee will show you how to use these insights to take your team's performance to a higher level every day. He provides workplace behavior consulting to help with your next hire, your current problem and your team's next great leader. Let's talk!
HIRING AND RETENTION
C. Lee Smith is the creator of The Four Fits™ methodology for hiring, promoting and retaining high-potentials. The proven framework's Manager Fit helps managers identify potential tensions with direct reports and future candidates so they can navigate them successfully.
EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
C. Lee Smith is a Certified Motivators Analyst. He advises team leaders on how to provide the ideal work environments, assignments and feedback loops that tap into intrinsic motivation. He also analyzes what reduces stress on the job and/or provides impactful recognition.
REVENUE GROWTH
C. Lee Smith is the author of the bestseller Hire Smarter, Sell More! He helps HR and sales teams to identify and coach those with the potential to be sales rainmakers. He also advises on how to avoid adding one of the 13 Types of Toxic Salespeople and what to do if you already have.