Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions! Navigating Leadership, Friction, Mentorship, and Legacy | Jimmy D. Smith #12
"Be careful of the question you ask because you're going to get a response, and you need to do something with it." - Jimmy D. Smith
Smith is currently serving in dual-CEO roles. In April 2023, Smith started “Smith Advisory Consulting” after retiring as a member of the Senior Executive Service after 32 years at the Department of the Navy. A year ago, Smith joined Pacific Engineering Incorporated, a Nebraska composite material design and manufacturing company.
In 2019, Smith served as the Small Business Director for the Department of the Navy. There, he was the chief advisor to the Secretary of the Navy on all small business matters. In 2017, Smith served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Programs & Logistics Management. In 2013, Smith served as the Director for Integrated Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security within the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs. He was charged with the safekeeping of nearly 70% of the Nation’s nuclear arsenal. Smith has held other notable positions for both the Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) Program and the Virginia Class Submarine Program.
Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Tuskegee University. He has completed extensive graduate-level studies and possesses four executive leadership certificates. Smith has championed Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs for grade school students and is a strong advocate for furthering the academic pursuits of college students through scholarships and student employment opportunities.
Smith shares his inspiring career journey from an aspiring pilot to a guardian of the nation's nuclear arsenal, highlighting the importance of persistent inquiry, mentorship, and community engagement. He discusses his unique work habits and strategies for career advancement and introduces the 'Talk Backwards' methodology for relationship building. Smith also emphasizes selflessness, integrity, and his initiatives in STEM programs, particularly with HBCUs, providing scholarships, internships, and job opportunities. Personal anecdotes and life lessons from his mentor, Vice Admiral Paul Sullivan, are woven throughout, encouraging listeners to question, grow, and help others succeed.
This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.
Keep questioning!
Episode Notes
[01:13] Smith's Early Career and Achievements
[04:36] Learning to Fly at 14-Years-Old
[10:35] Capitalizing on opportunities
[13:12] Mentorship and Career Growth
[25:59] The Importance of Asking Thoughtful Questions
[27:12] How The Submarine Community Asks Questions
[29:07] Non-verbal Communication and Digging Deeper
[34:49] Listening to Make Decisions
[43:30] Developing High EQ Through Active Listening
[56:19] Embracing Friction for Progress
[58:57] Building Culture Intentionally
[01:09:04] A Mentorship Masterclass
[01:14:26] Coaching, Mentoring, and Advocating
[01:21:41] Strategies to Capitalize on Opportunities
[01:25:37] TALK Backwards Explained
[01:28:54] Investing in STEM and HBCUs
[01:39:39] Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Resources Mentioned
Mr. and Mrs. Dragoo
Mr. Jack Evans (SES)
Penn State Applied Research Lab
Jimmy's email address: jsmith@smithadvisoryconsulting.com
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Can you tell me how your mentoring started?
Why did an engineer put that valve there?
What was your process for developing questions?
How would you interrogate this particular example?
What kind of questions would you ask of yourself to get through?
What were some expanding questions that the Admiral asked you?
What just happened?
how did you get to that point?
Are you getting someone looking in your eye?
Are they doing the eyes up and to the right?
How do you know when you need to keep asking questions?
Can you believe what you're being told?
How did you get here?
Did they do what they were supposed to do when they gave me that response?
Did they behave the way I thought they were going to behave?
Is the answer a logical, thoughtful answer?
Do you have any particular processes or favorite questions you have used in relation to making decisions?
If this were the case, would that answer still be what you think it should be?
If that broke, and that broke, and that broke, do we lose lives?
Did you ever struggle with the notion that if I ask a question, I'm going to look stupid?
How did you develop your EQ consciousness?
If you ever got into a situation where you had a concern come up like this scenario, who would you go talk to?
How have you used questions to inspire the organizations that you've led?
How do you use friction strategically?
Why are we doing this?
How do you differentiate between coaching, mentoring, and advocating?
What are you doing now?
What are you doing to give back?