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Wednesday Wisdom

Grit as a Tool for Focus

By Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams “A lack of grit can come from having less coherent goal structures.” Author Angela Duckworth talks a lot about grit, and the lack of it, in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. But let’s back up a bit. What’s “grit,” anyway? According to Duckworth, Grit = Passion + […]

Strategic Grit™: You Are Here

Strategic Grit™: You Are Here

By Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams Holly: Recently, my family and I were driving to dinner when we came across a car accident that had just occurred. It was clear the people involved needed assistance, so we called 911. The initial dialogue with the operator was simple: we were calling to report a car accident […]

Accountability Podcast with Christoph Trappe

Accountability Podcast with Christoph Trappe

Check out this fun conversation with Christoph Trappe from The Business Storytelling Show. (it’s less than 30 minutes!) https://anchor.fm/ctrappe/episodes/502-How-to-keep-each-other-accountable-e1f6nev/a-a7gt8sm

Strategic Grit™: Incorporating Rest into Growth

Strategic Grit™: Incorporating Rest into Growth

Holly: There’s a word that comes up often in my work with clients and that is tired. We are all feeling tired right now. A mistaken assumption about grit is that you must plow through exhaustion, ignore it, or push it to the side. But if you are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain, burnout might be around […]

Strategic Grit™: Seeds of Inspiration

Strategic Grit™: Seeds of Inspiration

By Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams Holly: “Everyone has a story.” This was an observation a dear friend of mine made several years ago, and it helped me realize that we all have a seed of grit within us. Recognizing and acknowledging that seed in ourselves and others can be inspiring. My friend Dee and I […]

Strategic Grit™—Talking, Trust, and Tenacity: Solve Problems Faster

Strategic Grit™—Talking, Trust, and Tenacity: Solve Problems Faster

By Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams Jennifer: I’ve been thinking a lot about the complex problems we citizens of the world face today, the ones that have no easy, obvious solution. We read news stories about the tussling and political theatrics involved in hammering out critically needed legislation. We watch climate activists express distress and frustration […]

Strategic Grit, Round 3: Emotions

Strategic Grit, Round 3: Emotions

October 2021 In our third round of blog posts, we look at the role of emotions in Strategic Grit, provide tips and tricks for overcoming the challenges that come with them, and more. We want to help you build Strategic Grit: a resilience that is not random but planned, effective, and durable. Holly: Since we’re talking […]

Strategic Grit, Round 2: Sustaining

Strategic Grit, Round 2: Sustaining

By Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams In our second round of Strategic Grit blog posts, we focus on real-life stories, sharing examples of real people who use Strategic Grit to get things done and move themselves and their organizations forward. In past posts, we’ve explored envisioning the future and taking the first steps in doing what is needed to […]

Summer 2021 Book Stack

Summer 2021 Book Stack

Looking for summer reading ideas? Check these out! The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived ~Admiral William H. McRaven Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones ~James Clear The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a […]

Strategic Grit, Round 2: Doing

Strategic Grit, Round 2: Doing

May 2021 By Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams In our second round of Strategic Grit blog posts, we are focusing on real-life stories, sharing examples of real people who use Strategic Grit to get things done and move themselves and their organizations forward. Holly: To kick things off, I’m going to “sing” a few lines […]

March 2021 Favorites

March 2021 Favorites

Are you starting to think about your summer reading? 📚☀️ Here are a couple of recommendations: 🌟The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You’re Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate By Harriet Learner, Ph.D. 🌟Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man By Emmanuel Acho 🌟Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and […]

Strategic Grit, Round 2: Envisioning

Strategic Grit, Round 2: Envisioning

Strategic Grit was born of the lessons (sometimes painful, sometimes joyful) that we learned in 2020, a unique year in many ways. Some of these lessons we learned on our own, through our research and personal experiences, and some were learned through our work with clients. But the theme that stands out to us is […]

February 2021 Favorites

February 2021 Favorites

Check out a couple of favorites from my February book stack. 📚 Only have time for 1 or 2? Rich Diviney’s The Attributes and Kevin Oakes’ Culture Renovation are books I highly recommend. 👍 Worthwhile investments for your library. Grateful for the following insights from The Attributes: 💡peak performance versus optimal performance 💡the importance of humor […]

January 2021 Favorites

January 2021 Favorites

January 2021 favorites!

Strategic Grit: The Power of Experimentation + Discipline

Strategic Grit: The Power of Experimentation + Discipline

2020 was tough and the global consensus was that it would be a welcome thing to move on to 2021. But when the calendar turned to 2021, things were still tough. Wait, what?!? Okay, as it turns out, starting a new year doesn’t actually mean a whole lot except that you have to remember to […]

Winter Book Stack

Winter Book Stack

Lots of reading lately. 📚 These are fantastic! What do you recommend for 2021?

Strategic Grit: Turning Chaos into Insight

Strategic Grit: Turning Chaos into Insight

Did your expectations for 2020 crash and burn? Don’t throw the smoking heap of unrealized goals and planning out! There are treasures buried there, including lots of learning and new insights. Let us explain. In our last Strategic Grit post (Are you ready to not just plan but DO? – Holly Adams Consulting), we discussed […]

Mental Toughness Lessons

Mental Toughness Lessons

The high school fall football season just wrapped up in Iowa, and my son’s team made it to the semi-finals, losing to the team that ended up winning the state championship. The team and their coaches did such a great job, and I want to congratulate them, not just for making it to the semi-finals, […]

Are you ready to not just plan but DO?

Are you ready to not just plan but DO?

Strategic Grit with Jennifer and Holly Are you ready to not just plan but DO? In our introductory blog post we promised a springboard for clarifying the future you want to create and bringing it to life. Through our Strategic Grit blog collaboration, we’ll share insights about both a get-it-done mindset AND plans of action […]

Introducing: Strategic Grit

Introducing: Strategic Grit

Hello! We’re Jennifer Horn-Frasier and Holly Adams, two consultants from the Midwest who use strategy and grit to help individuals, teams, and organizations create a clear vision of the success they seek, and then make it happen. Strategic Grit is born of the lessons we’ve learned in 2020, as well as the lessons that our […]

Uploading Responsibility

Uploading Responsibility

3 Ways to Prevent Uploading Responsibility You’ve probably heard the saying “Don’t bring me a problem without a solution.” And managers I know tell me that employees who are too quick to escalate an issue can, in fact, be very frustrating, even annoying. Think about it, typically when an employee comes to a manager with […]

Coaching Up

Coaching Up

Football is a relatively new experience for my son, who, at the high school level, chose to participate in the sport for the first time last year. Because I’m still learning too, I know he’s a bit more willing to engage when I ask about his experiences so far. My inquiries have steered away from […]

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Although released in 2018, I thought a book billed as the “antidote to chaos” would be prefect for my Summer 2020 reading list. The author, Jordan B. Peterson, wrote the book to expand on his hobby of engaging with readers on Quora, a question-and-answer website. Here are my three favorite rules: #3 Make friends with […]

Self Awareness Resources

Self Awareness Resources

Self-Awareness A pivotal moment in my self-awareness journey came several years ago during a heated discussion with a coworker. At the time, I was a Human Resources Manager attempting to point out to a colleague that she had misinterpreted the tuition reimbursement policy and that she wasn’t eligible to receive the funds she had requested. […]

Reflection

Reflection

My friend Lindsay asks really good questions, the kind that kick-off long, in-depth conversations that sometimes actually hurt. And yet, I love having them. Recently, Lindsay asked me about a low point in my life and how I’d moved past it. After we had talked for bit, she asked: How did you learn from this […]

Quick Video Recap - Nine Lies About Work

Quick Video Recap – Nine Lies About Work

I really enjoyed Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall. Here’s a quick video recap. Would love to chat with you about it!! LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram

Summer Reading

Summer Reading

Here are a couple of books I’ve read recently. Feel free to add them to your summer reading list. If you pick one of them up, please let me know what you think (social media links below)! If we can’t meet in person to exchange ideas, at least we can post or tweet. 🙂 -Holly […]

It’s Halftime

It’s Halftime

2020 isn’t over yet. It’s June. It’s halftime. We still got another half. We can still win it. ~Doc Rivers Doc Rivers, head coach of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, said this in a recent interview. As soon as I heard it, I had to grab a pen and jot it down. Powerful. Regardless of […]

Remembering Your Why

Remembering Your Why

Before the fitness centers closed in March, I was a regular at a spin (cycling) class on Sunday mornings. I prefer cycling outdoors, even with the occasional mishap (see: https://hollyadamsconsulting.com/get-back-on-the-bike/). But winter weather in Iowa can be harsh, and I like keeping myself bike-ready so I can really enjoy the warmer months. The spin class […]

Quarantine books

Quarantine books

Here are some books I’ve read while social distancing at home. I recommend them all! If you’ve read some of these, please let me know what lessons you took away (social media links below). -Holly The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, Ryan Holiday Talking to Strangers: […]

Take Action or Take Notes

Take Action or Take Notes

Today I’m sharing a nugget of insight from a recent client conversation. As we talked about this client’s organization’s response to COVID-19, he expressed pride and gratitude in the way the company and his team have continued to address customer needs. But he also talked about a problem he was having with a manger. This […]

Living with Dichotomy

Living with Dichotomy

We might all be in the same ocean, but we’re all in different boats. This analogy sums up the range of responses I’ve witnessed to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some people are hording toilet paper and staying at home, others spend their workday at the office and shop for groceries without a mask. There’s no […]

Quarantine Routine

Quarantine Routine

I’m hyper aware of the volume of information that’s available right now. Even getting to the worthwhile stuff – the free online classes offered by Ivy League schools, for example – can be a challenge. It’s important to acknowledge that our current situation has placed many unreasonable expectations on us. How are you managing home-schooling, […]

An Open Letter

An Open Letter

Well said, Steve Shriver!! Fantastic message about resiliency. https://lnkd.in/efq27GW #mentaltoughness #mentalstrength #resilence #iowanice An open letter from Iowa to coronavirus ‘You prey on the old. Well, get ready. Older Iowans are some of the most stubborn and resilient people you will ever meet.’ Dear coronavirus (COVID-19), You are terrible. Please go away. But first […]

A lesson in the making?

A lesson in the making?

A favorite author of mine recently expressed a desire to be sensitive to adding value instead of noise. True in ordinary times, but especially true as we filter such a high volume of information. I share the same desire, and it’s been top of my mind for a couple of weeks now. I want to […]

Remember What You Can Control

Remember What You Can Control

So much information to process! So many things out of our control. SO many things you can control: your attitude, how you spend your time, what activities you participate in with your kids, etc. Stoicism – understanding we don’t control and cannot rely on external events, only ourselves and our responses. Realizing what you can […]

Spring Break Reading

Spring Break Reading

If you have the opportunity to pick up a book in the next couple of weeks, here are a couple you might consider. Mindset By Carol Dweck, PhD. The Untethered Soul By Michael A. Singer Essentialism By Greg McKeown Calm the %*@# Down By Sarah Knight #No Approval Needed By […]

Sports and Leadership

Sports and Leadership

I still have a lot to learn about wrestling and what it means to be a wrestling mom. But a couple of things I’ve come to know: wrestlers tend to possess an extraordinary amount of mental toughness and there are some great parallels in sports performance and leadership. I’m taking notes! And here’s a good […]

Losing and Mental Toughness

Losing and Mental Toughness

“I want to see him lose.” I was with a group of friends who had gathered to watch a sporting event on TV and those harsh words got my attention even though they weren’t directed at anyone in the room. My friend’s wife quickly admonished him: Why would you say that about someone? With a […]

Promoting Accountability

Promoting Accountability

“The most effective form of feedback, however, comes from frequent conversations between managers and employees.” Do you manage a team? Check out this quick read on ways to promote accountability. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/257945/ways-create-company-culture-accountability.aspx

Parking Lots

Parking Lots

I first heard the term “parking lot” several years ago during a leadership development session. The company I was working for at the time would hold one or two of these sessions a year so that leaders could take a step back from their day-to-day work. They would use the time to focus on their […]

New Habits

I had a wonderful conversation this morning with a friend who shared her desire to develop a new habit. I regretted my initial reaction of dismissing her comments (I didn’t think it was a ‘bad’ habit, really!) after she provided additional background as to what was prompting her motivation for new behavior. Both of us […]

Oops! A change of plans, 3 days into 2020

Oops! A change of plans, 3 days into 2020

As I share more of my own personal experiences in my Wednesday Wisdom posts, I’m hearing more often from people who tell me “there might be an idea in there for a Wednesday Wisdom.” Recently, my own coach told me: “You need to write about that.” He wanted me to write about the fact that […]

8 Habits

8 Habits

Check out these 8 habits of great managers. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/272681/habits-world-best-managers.aspx For those of us in a non-manager role – item 3: admit and accept mistakes – is very clear to see. Especially when they DON’T do it. When a manager admits mistakes, it helps create a safe environment for others to do the same. Not only […]

You Are Worth Celebrating

You Are Worth Celebrating

A fantastic reminder for the first day of 2020. ♥ Happy New Year!

Past Year Review

Past Year Review

I’m trying something different this year and instead of looking ahead, I’m looking back. Reflecting on past wins and losses can be just as motivating as listing goals for the new year. And, as author and podcast host Tim Ferriss points out in this article from his website, doing a year-in-review can actually help you […]

Data dumping

Data dumping

At this time last year, I was blogging about how much I value data (Ditch the 2019 resolutions & collect data). Instead of grandiose resolutions for the New Year, I encouraged readers to collect data. My logic was that with increased information comes better-informed decisions, especially when it comes to breaking bad habits and adopting […]

A dose of self-awareness

A dose of self-awareness

I recently had the opportunity to meet someone who was completely self-aware. She was a woman who had a big job, a fancy title, and a ton of responsibilities. And yet what was most intriguing about her, to me at least, were the things she did outside of work. This woman managed three other roles, […]

From the Top of My Book Piles

From the Top of My Book Piles

Check out this week’s video! https://bit.ly/2sl7mpD How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

The Game of Feedback

The Game of Feedback

I grew up playing board games, so when my client compared the feedback process with a former employer to Operation (originally produced by Milton Bradley, now produced by Hasbro), I knew exactly what he was talking about. Maybe you remember this game too? It’s the one where players pretend to be surgeons and delicately remove […]

Celebrating a mental toughness milestone

Celebrating a mental toughness milestone

When people ask me about my interest in running, I tell them I learned to like running later in life. Growing up, I played sports that involved balls. For most of my early life, I viewed running as a form of punishment. When a ball touched the volleyball court during a practice, everyone had to […]

What are the little things that make any day a good day?

What are the little things that make any day a good day?

I knew when I walked into his office that something was off. There was a clear lack of energy on his part and that was definitely not normal for this client. We started with small talk and he asked me how my day was going. When I said it was going really well, he asked […]

Self-awareness check in

Self-awareness check in

Leaders never graduate from the school of self-awareness. I heard this line in a podcast and found it extremely meaningful. I am reminded that self-awareness is a continual journey, not a destination. In the busyness of our lives, it’s easy to keep doing and sometimes difficult to take a step back to reflect and evaluate. […]

Building mental toughness and grit

Building mental toughness and grit

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill Remember back in July when I went to Las Vegas to learn about mental toughness from expert Dr. Jason Selk? I’m having a blast implementing this training in my coaching sessions and using it to build clients’ self-confidence and mental stamina. Mental toughness is a […]

Progress not perfection

Progress not perfection

I strive to bring new ideas and insights to my Wednesday Wisdom blogs, but today, I’m trotting out something tried and true: Progress is better than perfection. Way, better! Let me tell you why. I’m sure that, like me, you don’t think of yourself as a perfectionist, and you probably don’t think that you expect […]

The gift of mentorship

The gift of mentorship

“Describe a favorite mentor and how they helped you.” It was a simple ice-breaker prompt, one intended to encourage connection and conversation. I was facilitating a team-building program with a client and used question cards to transition back from a break. I figured the person who chose this card would share a name and a […]

What I’m reading – habits, joy and ego

What I’m reading – habits, joy and ego

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg The first thing that grabbed my attention was a statistic that 40% of the actions we take each day aren’t conscious decisions but habits. Wow, really?! And just as intriguing, the fact that we have a tendency to […]

Trying to be a better leader? Start with Hello

Trying to be a better leader? Start with Hello

The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. — George Bernard Shaw As I kicked off a speaking engagement recently, I reminded my audience that speakers aren’t always the smartest people in the room. Not only do I believe this to be true, I find that reminding people of […]

Dragon boat racing: a lesson in effective coaching

Dragon boat racing: a lesson in effective coaching

I recently found myself on the other side of coaching and want to share the experience with you. Yes, it involves a dragon boat: a long boat with 18 oarsmen. I agreed to be a dragon boat oarsman with no prior experience, and so I was apprehensive when I showed up for our first and […]

Classroom Coaching

Classroom Coaching

A friend of mine is teaching a finance class at the University of Iowa and he asked me to share my solopreneur story. As I contemplated my talk, I took time to consider which elements of my journey might be most helpful to students as they finish college and transition into the work world. Interestingly […]

The power of questioning, in life and coaching

The power of questioning, in life and coaching

“We’ll, there’s another one out there now,” my friend quipped. We were meeting for coffee and, as so many of us do, she was killing time while our orders came up by scrolling through her emails on her cellphone. She explained that she had just received an email announcing yet another new coaching practice in […]

Time Management: Are you hiding away to get work done?

Time Management: Are you hiding away to get work done?

Being accessible is important when you’re a manager with a team to lead. But what happens when your team takes advantage of that accessibility and interruptions threaten to sabotage your own work? That was the case of a client of mine who recently expressed frustration at the mental tug-of-war she was experiencing. How could she […]

Leadership lessons from reality TV?

Leadership lessons from reality TV?

You won’t find me in front of a TV very often, and when you do, one of the last things I’m probably watching is a reality TV series. But (surprise!) a couple of weeks ago I actually watched some reality TV (about glass blowing, of all things!) and it was pretty darn good. The show […]

Documenting success to combat negative thinking

Documenting success to combat negative thinking

As summer comes to a close and a new school year begins, I’m inspired to do a sort of personal reset. I like to take time to think about my personal and professional goals for the academic year to come and how I will meet them. I also like to get back into the habit […]

End of Summer Reading

End of Summer Reading

Here are a couple of quick reads that provide a good value for a short time investment. Almost Everything, by Anne Lamott The inside flap of this book promises an exploration of ‘life’s essential truths,” which sounds pretty heavy, but don’t be dissuaded. Lamott is known for her wry wit, and in this book she […]

A day in Las Vegas with Dr. Jason Selk

A day in Las Vegas with Dr. Jason Selk

Of all the potentially fabulous ways to spend a day in Las Vegas, most people wouldn’t pick sitting in a hotel conference room with a dozen strangers. But that’s exactly what I did last week when I went through an intense training session with Dr. Jason Selk, who teaches mental toughness to pro athletes, top […]

Going to soak it in!

Going to soak it in!

Today’s WW is more of an announcement than a dose of wisdom, but wisdom is exactly what I hope to gain during my upcoming training with Dr. Jason Selk, whose work on developing mental toughness for peak performance resonates with me, personally and professionally. So, I’m getting on a jet plane and heading to Las […]

Job interviewing and crickets: Yes, there’s a connection

Job interviewing and crickets: Yes, there’s a connection

An email with the subject line of “crickets” snagged my attention recently. The email was from a friend and it was about the way a company treated her after a series of job interviews. More than a month after she’d met the hiring team, my friend still didn’t have an offer or update, and she […]

EMPLOYEE OFF-BOARDING: ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

EMPLOYEE OFF-BOARDING: ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

I’ve been hearing a lot of bad job-departure stories recently and this has me thinking about how organizations handle employee off-boarding. There’s a lot of emphasis on hiring employees. HR departments spend time updating the job description, doing the actual recruiting and screening, interviewing viable candidates, and on-boarding new employees to ensure they get the […]

Independence Day 2019

Independence Day 2019

I was intrigued as I listened to a recent podcast that referenced part of the Marine Corps Drill Instructor creed. These recruits are entrusted to my care. I will train them to the best of my ability. I will develop them into smartly disciplined, physically fit, basically trained Marines, thoroughly indoctrinated in love of […]

Make the Training Last Longer Than a Minute

Make the Training Last Longer Than a Minute

Find the lesson, even if a training seminar doesn’t have immediate applicability. It was one of a dozen “training” sessions I attended that year. Luckily, opportunities to learn about a new idea or a subject from an expert in the field seem abundant in the Corridor. The topic of this two-hour session was relevant for […]

A Crazy Good Dream

A Crazy Good Dream

But the craziest dream of all … is the one that starts a million more. I saw this commercial for the first time when I was watching the US Women’s National Soccer Team play Thailand in the first round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup last week. It elicited a cheer and a fist pump from […]

It’s Still the Little Things

It’s Still the Little Things

Cliché but true; it’s all about the little things. The smallest gestures to acknowledge others (or lack thereof) send a powerful message. The new employee in Accounting brings about twenty years of experience to the organization. Her amount of expertise will likely make a great contribution. And the first thing my friend (a colleague to […]

“I Know What I’m Going to Get”

Predictability increases trust. The long holiday weekend provided a wonderful excuse to get together with some girlfriends. We sat in a corner of the bar catching up on recent life events. Our small group shared easy but deep conversation, the kind of rich dialogue that is the reward for years invested in our friendships. The […]

Noteworthy Commencement Speech Excerpts

Noteworthy Commencement Speech Excerpts

‘Tis the season! Enjoy a couple of my favorites. Oprah Winfrey Colorado College 2019 The truth is, you cannot fix everything. But what you can do, here and now, is make a decision, because life is about decisions. And the decision is that you will use your life in service; you will be in […]

Insights From the Book: Insight

Insights From the Book: Insight

Recently, I invited a group of colleagues* to discuss the book, Insight, by Tasha Eurich. Here is what I gleaned from the dialogue. Insight #1: The definition of self-awareness While this might seem fairly basic, I share it because I had a limited understanding of self-awareness until I read Dr. Eurich’s definition. I understood self-awareness […]

From the Top of My Book Piles

From the Top of My Book Piles

Here are some of my current favorites: 10-Minute Toughness by Jason Selk My favorite passage: Three Levels of Goals The 10-Minute Toughness mental work out is optimized when athletes know how to set effective goals for themselves. The three levels, or types, of goals that I discussed with clients are ultimate goals, product goals and […]

The Three Most Impactful Words a Manager Can Say: I Hear You

The Three Most Impactful Words a Manager Can Say: I Hear You

If you’re going to invest time in gathering information from a departing employee, ensure they feel heard. Most organizations I’ve worked in collected some type of exit data, both quantitative and qualitative, through an exit survey or an exit interview. Many departing employees appreciated the opportunity to share insights about their experience with the organization. […]

Find Out What Makes Them Tick

Find Out What Makes Them Tick

Taking the time to learn someone’s story likely feels inefficient, especially to someone who is results-driven. But the long-term gains are worth it. The question was innocent enough and one that I’ve come to expect from prospective clients. I was asked last week, “How do you measure success?” I’m data-driven by nature, so I was […]

Resources for Increasing Self-Awareness

Resources for Increasing Self-Awareness

I have found Dr. Tasha Eurich’s work on self-awareness to be extremely helpful. To learn more, watch her Tedx Talk by following this link: https://www.ted.com/talks/tasha_eurich And find more information about her book, Insight, using this link: https://insight-book.com What did you find most helpful about self-awareness? LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-adams-54b1b914/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HollyAdamsConsulting/ Twitter twitter.com/HAC_Holly […]

The Characteristics of My Favorite Team

The Characteristics of My Favorite Team

I’ve been a part of some fantastic work teams. There is one group, though, that remains my favorite. Not because we were all alike, but because we were so different. Because my clients hold leadership positions, part of their role is always managing a team. Inevitably, we discuss team dynamics and the impact of different […]

The Advice I Followed in Year One

The Advice I Followed in Year One

I knew the first year of my developing my own consulting practice would be challenging; here is the advice I found most impactful. I am extremely grateful to my coach who encouraged me to write, reflect, document, journal, etc. to capture these insights. Know Your Audience When he gave this advice almost 20 years ago, […]

Become Aware of Your Processing Style

Become Aware of Your Processing Style

Do you think to talk or talk to think? His words were blunt: “When you don’t say anything, I assume you have nothing to contribute.” My colleague’s assumption was completely false. But I understood his perspective. And while the words cut, I did need the reminder that others have no idea what’s going on in […]

My Favorite Interview Question

My Favorite Interview Question

Use this great question wrap up an interview. There is one piece of data I wish I’d kept track of since the beginning of my professional career: the number of interviews I’ve conducted with candidates seeking employment. Regardless of my title, recruiting and participating in interviews have been a part of my job in every […]

5 Words to Close the Perception – Reality Gap

5 Words to Close the Perception – Reality Gap

A quick way to understand how others perceive you – Just ask! A recent Twitter post by Tasha Eurich, a psychologist, researcher and author: My research team and I have found that 95% of people think they’re self-aware, but the real number is closer to 10 to 15%. This means that on a good day […]

An Empty Sack Can’t Stand

An Empty Sack Can’t Stand

In a moment of need, no theory of leadership is more meaningful than a simple, clarifying statement. My grandfather was a farmer, so when he said “Make hay while the sun shines,” he meant it (almost) literally. The saying served as encouragement to take advantage of favorable circumstances. It takes time to set up ideal […]

From the Top of My Book Piles

From the Top of My Book Piles

Extra snow days have allowed for some extra reading. Here are some of my current favorites: Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser My favorite passages: How simple life would be if we could just do things the way we did them in the past. We can trust ourselves because we’ve seen it work. But […]

Finding Significance in the Insignificant

Finding Significance in the Insignificant

Thank you, Steph Hoeper, for this week’s wisdom. I am grateful for your powerful and insightful perspective as a stay-at-home mom. Sometimes the smallest roles hold the biggest lessons. When my kids were younger, they used to beg to go to the fun building we drove by daily in our sleek, silver Honda Odyssey. As […]

Another Unconventional Source of Leadership

Another Unconventional Source of Leadership

Last week, I shared an example of leadership behaviors from an unconventional source – teenagers. Up this week: leadership from the opposite side of the generational spectrum. All of the organizations I’ve worked with have encouraged community involvement; it’s an opportunity I don’t take lightly. I’ve benefited tremendously by making service to the community part […]

This is What Leadership Looks Like

This is What Leadership Looks Like

Leadership behaviors surround us. Note the most unconventional sources. For me, the most realistic and accurate description of leadership is one of a journey, rather than a destination. My observations of great leaders indicate that we don’t just become a leader one day and then, henceforth, carry out our duties as leaders. Rather, each situation […]

What are Your Default Settings?

What are Your Default Settings?

Knowing your default settings is a great first step in self-awareness. There are many ways to engage in a conversation about self-awareness, and knowing your default settings is one way to begin the journey. My own discovery came about a bit by accident, prompted by a question about trust. Trust is a topic I cover […]

Your Response

Your Response

“We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them” – Epictetus I’m not really a podcast person. I understand the appeal. But I can read much faster than (most) anyone can talk. And honestly, when I have the chance to ‘listen’ to anything, it’s music. Loud music. However, […]

Shared Wisdom

Shared Wisdom

It is good to rub, and polish our brain against that of others. Michel Eyquem de Montaigne I want to highlight the wisdom of some of the amazing connections I’ve made in the last year (or so). I am inspired by the insights and am honored to share the work of my friends. […]

Leadership Can Be One Tough Calling

Leadership Can Be One Tough Calling

In the coaching process, I repeatedly invite my clients to increase self-awareness by asking for feedback. This week, I got an unexpected dose of my own medicine. I had a draft of this week’s Wednesday Wisdom post ready, and I shared it with a wise little one under my roof. She had other (better!) ideas, […]

Get Back on the Bike

Get Back on the Bike

When life knocks you over, get back up and keep going. My friend, Becky, gave me a t-shirt for Christmas that reminded me of a spill that I took on my bike last summer. You might be thinking, what a great friend, huh?! Or that it’s January in Iowa and perhaps a story about a […]

The Power of Personal Effects

The Power of Personal Effects

Use personal effects to increase relatability and drive connection. My travels in 2018 allowed me to spend a day exploring the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I found the most meaningful part of the experience to be the “Forever Remembered” exhibit that honors the fourteen astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger and Space […]

Your One Word for 2019

Your One Word for 2019

The concept of a ‘one word’ focus has been around for several years. I invite you to give it a try for 2019. My coach and friend, Marlo Higgins, offers a great explanation of this one word concept as she explained her word from a couple of years ago in this ~3 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ3pg4mwgY4 […]

Ditch the 2019 Resolutions; Collect Data Instead

Ditch the 2019 Resolutions; Collect Data Instead

An alternative to a New Year’s resolution? Collect data to begin the journey of increased self-awareness. I want to share a quick thought with you as we wrap up 2018. There is likely a temptation to make a resolution to change a behavior in 2019. But I invite you to try something different instead. Collect […]

Snow Day Reading Suggestions

Snow Day Reading Suggestions

Have some extra down time for reading? Here are some of my current favorites: The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Leadership requires finding the balance between opposing forces: leading and following, focusing and detaching. My favorite passage: Even the best team and the best leaders never deliver flawless performances. No […]

Surprises Suck

Surprises Suck

Surprises on either side of employment decisions are never ideal. Recently, I was involved in two discussions around the surprise consequences of another person’s unexpected employment decision. In one conversation, a friend shared that she was recipient of some new (added) responsibilities because her manager found herself without the approval to replace a position in […]

Thanksgiving Gratitude Extended – Recognizing Friends

Thanksgiving Gratitude Extended – Recognizing Friends

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, so I am extending the sentiment of gratitude just a bit longer. I suppose I’m just like everyone else in terms of my ability to remember (or completely forget!) certain meaningful calendar dates. The upcoming birthday of a family member reminded me of the unique circumstances surrounding one […]

Becoming Slightly More “We” This Thanksgiving

Becoming Slightly More “We” This Thanksgiving

As I finished Ann Lamott’s latest book, Almost Everything, I realized her passage on empathy provided a wonderful transition from the “they” concept of business leadership I discussed last week to the “we” concept of engaging with those immediately around us. Empathy is a useful tool we can “practice” with our friends and families this […]

The Recipe for Great Leadership Contains A Healthy Dose of Humility

The Recipe for Great Leadership Contains A Healthy Dose of Humility

My favorite people – professionally and personally – share a common trait of extraordinary humility. Some things only make sense in hindsight. Reflecting on my earliest positions, I made some erroneous assumptions about the characteristics of those with leadership roles. I didn’t necessarily equate a value to this or judge these factors, I just noticed, […]

The War is in You Today! And Every Day.

The War is in You Today! And Every Day.

I participated in the 43rd annual Marine Corps Marathon held in Washington, DC, in late October. Aside from the incredibly meaningful experience, I found myself in a unique situation to learn additional leadership lessons. At an early water stop a young Marine screamed at the runners, “The war is in you today!” Perhaps he’d been […]

Fall Favorites

Fall Favorites

Soccer mom duties this fall provided great reading opportunities during practices. Here are some of my favorite books: Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin My favorite passages: Habits make change possible by freeing us from decision making and from using self-control. Not everyone is like me. The opposite of a profound truth is also […]

An Unconventional Way to Define Success

An Unconventional Way to Define Success

By the number of people that are currently upset with you? This fall marks several years in a row that I’ve participated in a panel discussion for a local college. The panel consists of individuals with a degree in psychology, and the moderator allows students considering this degree to ask questions such as how we […]

Grace: Request, Accept, Extend, Move Forward

Grace: Request, Accept, Extend, Move Forward

Grace, well-received and well-extended, builds relationships. Recently, I’ve heard two very powerful stories about grace. I have a great amount of respect for the way both women used the grace extended to them to improve the way they extend grace to others. Both stories reminded me of its importance in building trusting relationships. In the […]

Pick Up the Phone

Pick Up the Phone

The simplest advice ever. And relevant more often than we think. Initially, I hated his guts. In my mind, Matt* was just a slick sales guy. He thought he was special. Special parking spot. Special hours. Lots of golf. Knew everyone. Characteristics (at the time) I didn’t exactly respect or embrace. Early in our working […]

The Gift of a Giver Leader – A Psychologically Safe Environment

The Gift of a Giver Leader – A Psychologically Safe Environment

Notice the givers. They are a treasure. And very effective leaders. Tracy and I worked together years ago and our paths cross occasionally, both personally and professionally. At a recent seminar, we had a chance to catch up between sessions. Just as we were wrapping up for the day, she handed me a piece of […]

Honor the Struggles, Too

Honor the Struggles, Too

Reflecting on a difficult time or low point (while not dwelling on it) can offer perspective to you and serve as a connection with others. I believe in the power of positive thinking. And it’s wise to spend the majority of our energy in this space. But we can find value by reflecting on our […]

What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading?

Lessons from great reads outside the bookstore’s business section. Here are a couple of books to consider. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown My favorite passages: An unnamed coach is reputed to have said, “Rowing is like a beautiful duck. On the surface it is all grace, but underneath the bastard’s paddling […]

How Much Time Have You Spent on a Farm?

How Much Time Have You Spent on a Farm?

During the interview process, ask a question or two that will provide some insight into the candidate’s level of grit. Any leader who’s had responsibility in the recruiting process understands it’s not always smooth and efficient. Regardless of the position, it’s a challenge to find the right questions to determine how the experience listed on […]

More Choices Prompt the Need for More Conversation

More Choices Prompt the Need for More Conversation

Focused dialogue in a trust-filled relationship exponentially increases the odds of a successful outcome. Did you know up to five different generations make up some current workforces? Helping a colleague prep for a panel discussion on generational differences provoked a great conversation on the impacts of that range in ages on not just workplace dynamics, […]

Tower Standby!

Tower Standby!

Great leaders know how to focus. A wonderful by-product of coaching is the exposure to new industries and the opportunity to learn about leadership in different arenas. The perspectives have been fascinating, and I want to share a lesson from one of those recent conversations. Brett is a United States Naval Academy graduate and Naval […]

Great Leaders Embrace the Unseen Work

Great Leaders Embrace the Unseen Work

The best leaders are likely working on their non-technical skills in a way that no one else sees. Results that appear effortless often aren’t as easy as they seem. The meeting was going to be a defining moment for our colleague. Either she was going to understand the need to change the way she interacted […]

Leading with Blueberry Coffee

Leading with Blueberry Coffee

How an off-handed comment about blueberry coffee differentiated leaders with an inward mindset and an outward mindset. There are many different leadership theories out there, each with its own merits. One of the most compelling I’ve encountered recently is that a leader with an outward mindset is the most effective. According to the Arbinger Institute, […]

Label: Human

Label: Human

Recently, the topic of assessments has been swirling around in my head. Not only have I taken several leadership assessments in recent years, but lately, I’ve considered which assessments and tools to use in my consulting practice. I appreciate the common vocabulary these tools can provide. When an entire organization is exposed to the same […]

Just Ask For It - If Only It Were That Easy!

Just Ask For It – If Only It Were That Easy!

In last week’s Wednesday Wisdom, I concluded that the remedy for a lack of feedback was to “just ask for it.” In hindsight, I mentioned it like an easy, all-in-one solution. And while the concept may actually be simple, it’s not easy. I met Craig Weber, the author of Conversational Capacity, last week and he […]

Three Reasons You’re Not Receiving Feedback and the Remedy

Three Reasons You’re Not Receiving Feedback and the Remedy

Are you assuming no news is good news when it comes to your performance? Please reconsider. Last week’s Wednesday Wisdom discussed increasing self-awareness using feedback we receive, even feedback that’s surprising to us or with which we don’t necessarily agree. But what about when we don’t get enough feedback? Or any feedback, really. It’s rare […]

Increasing Self-Awareness Through Unexpected Feedback

Increasing Self-Awareness Through Unexpected Feedback

Most of us fail to recognize there is a different perspective than our own, much less the possibility that it’s correct. Feedback that provides an entirely different perspective is a true gift. Are you open to it? At that time, part of my job as a Human Resources Manager was to administer the tuition reimbursement […]

If Possible...

If Possible…

The most successful change process empowers you to hold yourself responsible for making decisions. Sometimes it’s not possible now, but it will be. About a year ago, I got a new-to-me car that had a navigation system. With the vast majority of my driving being local and a navigation app on my phone, I didn’t […]

Independence Day 2018

Independence Day 2018

There is such simple boldness in that first step toward a new state. To all those taking action, there is no better place to be than in the arena. My favorite quotation: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of […]

Four Factors of Team Success: Purpose, Mantra, Goals, and Trust

Four Factors of Team Success: Purpose, Mantra, Goals, and Trust

Common elements can be found in all successful teams. Last Saturday, I participated in a marathon relay race in which six of us ran a different segment of the race to complete 26.2 miles. You don’t have to know anything about running to understand why we are already planning to participate in next year’s event. […]

Challenge Accepted! I’m Not Too Busy.

Challenge Accepted! I’m Not Too Busy.

Sharing some quick ‘wisdom’ from a recent lesson I learned on what busy really means. I know I fell right into the trap when a friend asked how I was doing a couple of weeks ago. I was training for another marathon and starting a new business, so my automatic answer was ‘Good. Busy, but […]

The Gift of Colleague Feedback

The Gift of Colleague Feedback

Feedback from a colleague can be a powerful source of information. Often, they have a better perspective of our performance than our manager. Termination meetings are likely one of the most stressful parts of the job for anyone in a leadership role, yet it was a termination meeting that provided an eye-opening example about […]

Leadership Lessons from the Soccer Field

Leadership Lessons from the Soccer Field

My life is all about soccer these days. My kids play almost year-round now. And as someone who has never played the game, I didn’t exactly dream about the day I would be a soccer mom. Let me quickly clarify that I wouldn’t trade it for the world but suffice it to say that I’m […]

Starting the Conversation

Starting the Conversation

The conversation is the relationship. ~ Susan Scott in Fierce Conversations At one point in my career, I worked for 4 different managers, at the same organization, in a span of 18 months. The first manager was terminated, and then my next manager retired. This was followed by a re-organization in the company. And […]

Your Panel – Deciding What Opinions Matter

Your Panel – Deciding What Opinions Matter

In the course of contemplating the creation of HAC, there was a lot of reflection on my previous career experiences, my areas of expertise, and ultimately the legacy I want to leave. I concluded that many of my past career decisions were, at least in some part, driven by the expectations of others in terms […]

Actions > Words: Understanding the Say/Do Ratio

Actions > Words: Understanding the Say/Do Ratio

She whipped out her phone lightning fast and had her calendar pulled up before I could say anything else. Her response was something on the lines of “Does next Tuesday at 11:45 work for you?” I had known Angela* for a couple of years; I would have called her an acquaintance at that point. I’d […]

Introducing Holly Adams Consulting, LLC

Introducing Holly Adams Consulting, LLC

The Leap From the Lion’s Head When I shared that I’d made the decision to start my own consulting firm, a dear friend congratulated me for being brave enough “to take the leap from the lion’s head,” referring to the point Indiana Jones, in the movie The Last Crusade, crosses a gorge with […]

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