Spotlight on Alum: Heide Garrigan

A member of the Spring 2010 Leadership Ascent, Heide Garrigan is mother to 3 boys, ages 14, 11 and 11. She studied Communications at Miami University and owns Pivotal Consulting where she coaches both teams and executives in their leadership.

Heide has a passion for her family, sports, and travel. She has visited 6 of the 7 continents, and Antarctica is on her Bucket List!

Q. What’s surprised you most about making the shift from working for someone to leading your own business?

A. One of my first surprises or “ah-ha moments” as I like to call them, happened as I reflected on my first completed business contract. Formally, as a part of a large organization I had worked with numerous teams along the business cycle. Now, as an entrepreneur, I realized it was all up to me!

I had gotten the deal after a successful business lunch where I went home, wrote up a contract and sent it to the client (aka I was the Sales and Contract Management team). Following contract signature I moved forward with designing a leadership workshop (aka Development team). After a successful event (Delivery team) I logged into my financial software and sent an invoice (Finance team). I felt a great sense of pride that I was able to successfully complete all the phases.

Q. What’s your favorite success outcome as a result of participating in The Leadership Ascent? How did The Leadership Investment make a difference in you bringing your success to life?

A. The Program helped grow my confidence, allowing me to take ownership of my professional growth. In the past I had allowed others to offer me roles at work without considering my own goals or strengths. The focus was more on what the company needed, rather than “what Heide needed.”

By participating in the Leadership Ascent I gained awareness of myself, how I could best contribute to my organization, and what my personal objectives were. It’s so empowering!

Q. How do you “think outside the box” with respect to your work-life potential and opportunities?

A. For me, thinking outside of the box, meant leaving a 20-year career at the same company and starting my own business. I knew what the next 20 years were going to look like for me at that organization and I also knew with an 11-year-old and 9-year-old twins that was not going to be the right mix for me. It took me some time to acknowledge the fear of leaving the only career I had known. It took me even more time to identify what my passions were and how to shape that into a new career. I also sought out mentors and supporters who cheered me on whenever I began to doubt myself. Over time I was forcing myself to think out of the box, be courageous, and make changes for me and my family. Now, after 3 years of owning my own business I am doing what I love, have gained many new skills, and am excited about future possibilities.

Q. What’s the most important characteristic necessary for 21st-century leadership? Why is this characteristic essential?

A. I think an important characteristic for any leader is self-awareness, understanding others’ behavioral styles and then knowing what to do about it (is that just 1 characteristic?).

I think many people and teams prohibit themselves from being successful because they don’t understand others’ viewpoints, nor do they try to. I consciously ask myself questions, “Why did he really say that? What is causing her behavior? What is he thinking to himself? What is the outcome she wants to achieve?” I believe, once I have an open dialogue with those around me to answer those type of questions then we all will be more successful.

Q. As an entrepreneur following up your consulting career, it’s clear you have put skills in place to support success at work and at home. What are three suggestions for balancing career with personal life responsibilities and succeeding with both?

A.

• When I worked in a large corporation I always maintained my own calendar and managed my own travel arrangements. This may have meant a little more time on my side to do it, but I felt more in control and I could balance professional obligations with my personal commitments w/o ever feeling like I had to justify anything to others.

• If I had a task to do I scheduled it on my calendar. If I needed to develop a presentation I would block time on my calendar. If I needed to fill out expense reports I scheduled 30 minutes during the day to do it. If I needed to schedule a dentist appointment, I booked 15 minutes on my calendar to complete it. This helped me avoid having a day full of meetings and where I had to begin “real work” at 8pm.

• I keep a pad and pen by my bedside. This way if I wake up at night thinking about something I need to do I write it down and get it out of my mind. Otherwise I am up all night worrying about it

Q. How do you maintain order/status quo and/or how do you “manage it all” just a bit better?

A. “Be Present” in the activities you are doing. I know this can be an overused term these days but I truly take it to heart and have to continue working at enjoying the moments I have with friends and family, and not trying to multitask and over-schedule myself.

Two years ago I found myself on a morning conference call, cooking breakfast, and packing my kids’ lunches…all at the same time. One day I happened to sit down with my kids at the breakfast table and they asked what I was doing. “Eating breakfast with you,” I replied, a little dumbfounded. “What did it look like I was doing?” Well, it wasn’t until that moment that I realized that even though in the past I thought I was “eating breakfast” because I was in the same room as they were, I really wasn’t present. I promised myself that I needed to slow down and begin doing activities one at a time, and truly focusing on the moment. If you need to work, set aside the time and focus on the work task at hand. If you need time for yourself or with your family, set aside that time and make it just as much of a priority. I can “do it all,” just not “all at once.”

Heide enjoys meeting new people and re-connecting with past acquaintances. To connect with her, feel free to email her here: heidegarrigan@pivotalconsultinginc.com

#leadership #careerpath