Heidi Frye Blog
Leaders transform when they “do the work”, plug into their core, and BE the best version of themselves. Here are a few written resources to help you on your Whole Leader journey.
The Choice That Reveals Your Leadership
A quiet conversation at a lakeside cottage unexpectedly turned into an emotional confrontation. In the moments that followed, I was reminded that leadership isn't measured by how we respond when life is easy—but by the choices we make when it isn't. Sometimes protecting our peace means choosing our values over our ego.
The Rhythm of Leadership
A conversation with the owners of a ballroom dance studio sparked an unexpected leadership lesson. The strongest organizations aren't built on structure alone. When discipline is paired with joy, people engage more deeply, perform at a higher level, and create cultures where both employees and customers thrive.
Seeing Something Anew
A simple question during a leadership Master Class led to an unforgettable moment of insight. What began as a discussion about communication styles uncovered something much deeper: the stories we tell ourselves, the ways we seek approval, and the transformative power of seeing ourselves anew.
Life Is a Classroom, Not a Courtroom
Do you treat life like a classroom—or a courtroom? The difference changes everything. When we stop judging our mistakes and start learning from them, we become more self-aware, resilient, and effective leaders.
When Leadership Means Following
A ballroom dance lesson turned into an unexpected leadership lesson. Sometimes the greatest strength isn't knowing how to lead—it's knowing when to trust, follow, learn, and let someone else guide the next step.
Her Feedback Was A Gift, But Not the Point
A chance encounter at a leadership conference became a powerful reminder that our greatest source of confidence isn't praise, recognition, or validation from others. The healthiest leaders learn to plug into something deeper—their values, purpose, and internal power source.
Finding and Revealing What’s Within
What if leadership is less about directing people and more about seeing what is already there? Inspired by a woodworking artist's creation, Heidi Frye explores the leadership skill of recognizing potential, uncovering strengths, and helping others become who they are capable of being.
Stepping Into Your Power Applies to Men Too
Two conversations in a client lobby reminded me of an important leadership truth: stepping into your power is not about aggression or ego. It's about awareness, clarity, and having the courage to act. In both cases, once these leaders recognized where they were giving away their power, the solution became obvious—and the impact was immediate.
Do You Know This Word?
During a podcast interview, Carlos Manzano introduced me to a leadership term that stopped me in my tracks: agency. While many men seem familiar with the concept, I discovered that many women—including me—were not. The insight sparked a deeper conversation about power, leadership, and why balancing agency and communal traits may be one of the keys to becoming a truly effective leader.
Well, That Was Awkward
A technical glitch replaced every subscriber's name with "Test First Name." While fixing the problem, I realized something surprising: I didn't actually miss the personalized greeting. What started as an email mistake became a lesson in authenticity, curiosity, and finding opportunity in unexpected places.
Iditarod Leadership: Trusting Your Team
At the Legacy Project conference, Blair Braverman shared a story I haven’t stopped thinking about: surrounded by wolves on the trail, she watched her lead dog calmly lay down—and trusted him enough to do the same. It became a powerful reminder that leadership is not always about certainty or the lead position. Sometimes it is about steadiness, trust, and bringing the kind of presence that helps others rest, even when uncertainty is nearby.
She Didn't Go Anywhere
I walked past a restaurant in San Antonio that holds a very specific memory — one involving a dare, a table, and absolutely zero regrets. And standing there, I found myself wondering about that version of me. The one who said yes without overthinking it. The one who was just... alive. She's still in there. And I think yours is too.
What Floor Are You On?
I want to ask you something most people never stop to consider. What floor are you on? Not your office. Not your building. Your emotional floor — the one you woke up on this morning, made decisions from, and led others from all day. Most of us don't know. We just react. But here's what I've learned: once you know your floor, everything changes.
Two Babies, One Flight, One Leadership Lesson
There were two babies on my flight. One cried for most of it. The other? Maybe one minute of fussiness — total. Same flight, same conditions. The difference wasn't luck. It was the dad sitting next to me, who never once waited for things to go wrong. He was already there. And it made me think — how many of us are leading that way?
Black & White, and The Colorful World of Gray
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A leadership reflection on decision-making, critical thinking, and navigating complexity. This article explores how the brain’s tendency to simplify into black-and-white thinking can limit perspective, reduce nuance, and impact communication. The most effective leaders expand beyond binary thinking, embracing complexity to make more thoughtful, informed, and impactful decisions.
Their Face Tells The Story
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“Move up!” she said. Again. And again.
What followed wasn’t just a pickleball moment—it was a leadership lesson in boundaries, communication, and standing in your power.
Pickleball Continues to Serve
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“Move up!” she said. Again. And again.
What followed wasn’t just a pickleball moment—it was a leadership lesson in boundaries, communication, and standing in your power.
Trusting Yourself
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My son was telling me about the awesomeness happening in his improv class.
He was so energized, describing the freedom of stepping into a scene with no script, no plan, no predetermined outcome — and trusting himself. And the scariness.
Clean Giving
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Lately I’ve been thinking about giving.
The kind that looks generous. Selfless. Kind. The kind that earns us the label “so nice.”
But what if “nice” isn’t always noble?
What if…
The Muscles We Forgot We Had
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Recently my mom knit me a red scarf.
It is thick. Textured. I love it.
What makes it even more meaningful is this. She did not think she could do it.