Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen Reid.
Hi Gretchen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story actually begins back when I was about 6 years old. My mother would tell you that I’ve always been a coach and team builder, inviting the neighborhood kids over to play ‘kick the can’ and ‘sardines’ (oops, I think I just dated myself), and poking my nose into the homes of my little friends to help them navigate dynamics with their parents and siblings. Then we moved when I was 9 years old.
I noticed my father going from happy-go-lucky, loving his personal and professional life, to stressed out and not quite himself. It was during a downturn in the economy that he was forced to take a job in a new industry that did not speak to his soul, working with a team that did not see eye to eye. It was then that I made a vow (likely subconsciously at the time), to help people align who they are with what they do and work effectively with their teammates to be able to achieve great things in the world.
Flash forward many years, I graduated with a BA in Psychology and Business Management and an MS in Human Resource Development. After a few years in the industry, I started my own leadership development practice in 1998 after moving out to Colorado from New York State. The business has definitely seen its ebbs and flows, and I have ducked back into would-be client organizations at times. Today we are proud to serve clients in the outdoor industry, healthcare, wellness, hospitality, and hi-tech.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The greatest struggle along the way was the gray space between my ears. Those gremlins can be powerful. Those voices that try to tear me down, “Who do you think you are? You’re not smart enough, and on they chant. The fear of rejection, or differently, the need to be liked. That pesky little thing.
This was especially true in the beginning when I was launching my business from my cold, dark basement in Boulder, Colorado. I advise not doing that. Beyond that, I’ve certainly ridden my fair share of ebbs and flows with the economy (COVID was a tough time). I have since found effective ways of staffing to accommodate those rollercoasters.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Integrated Growth?
Integrated Growth specializes in leadership, team development, and culture that drives your business success. We build award-winning leadership development programs, facilitate large-scale change initiatives, and provide coaching for leaders and their teams.
It is our belief that every leader is human first, every team is made up of people who care, and every organization has a heart at its core. Organizations, whether for-profit businesses, non-profits, or communities of any kind, are living organisms that have a heartbeat all their own, they have a culture (deliberate or default), and they live and breathe. This means they can grow, they can change, and they can transform.
Our team of highly skilled consultants and executive coaches solve real problems in real-time, helping you to achieve your greatest mission. We take a holistic view of where you want to go and the issues that present themselves along the way. We partner with you to bring your culture to life in everyday decisions and behaviors that drive real results.
If any of these conditions exist in your organization, contact Gretchen Reid at Integrated Growth, 303-330-9877, [email protected], www.integratedgrowth.com:
• Merger or acquisition.
• Change of any kind (restructure, technology, product, service, new team members, growth, market changes, etc).
• Have a huge goal and don’t quite know how to get there.
• Need to solve a complex problem or innovate with diverse stakeholders.
• Hosting a company summit or team retreat and need a facilitator.
• Need to focus your whole team, organization, or community around a shared mission.
• Have new leaders joining your organization.
• Leaders promoted to new roles and teams.
• Seasonal teams that ebb and flow.
• Team not firing on all cylinders.
Integrated Growth also customizes workshops for your specific needs. Sign up for their newsletter that brings you valuable leadership and organizational development articles and resources on a monthly basis.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I want to someday bring my passion and skills to developing countries and help ‘pop-up-teams’ team quickly and effectively. Teams such as Doctors Without Borders, teams who come together to build schools, housing, or hospitals, and teams who come together for emergency services. This has been a dream of mine for a very long time and I think I’m on the horizon.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.integratedgrowth.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/51604236/admin/feed/posts/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenreid/
