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.
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.
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.
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.
The Impact of Energy
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Pickleball continues to be one of my greatest teachers.
Not because of the game per se, but because it pokes at my ego, and offers lessons. This time there were two.
The first happened while…
Is this really yours to carry?
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We all have layers.
Layers and layers of past conditioning, interpretations, and perceptions.
Lately, I’ve discovered one of my own, and I’m sharing it in the hopes that it helps you look within yourself. Continuing your self work.
The Courage to Ask
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Lately, I’ve been noticing something I can’t unsee.
People around me, speaking passively.
Not in big, obvious ways, but…
Permission to Redefine Success
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I received an email from a former colleague recently. He's a high-level leader who just made a job change, more of a lateral move than an upward climb.
He was quick to list out his rationale… ,
What happens when we let in the light?
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Remember the amaryllis bulb I shared earlier this year? The one resting on birch wood—no soil, no water—just light?
It bloomed.
Ever Taken an AWE Walk?
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I want to challenge you with an exercise as we begin this new year.
What are your words? Three to seven words that live at the core of who you are.
I did this…