Barb Adams of Executive Coaching Insight at France OffiCenter is our Innovator client! Barb is an energetic, social individual. As an executive coach, a key value for Barb is building trusting, respected relationships with her clients. Barb focuses on a collaborative effort to help her clients discern and discover wisdom to gain results. To find out more visit her website at www.ecinsight.com or send her an email at barb@ecinsight.com.
1) What would you like people to know about you and your business? I am an Executive Coach where I help C-Level individuals, executives, and high potentials grow as influential leaders and when in a job search to think more strategically for a better and faster outcome. My focus is facilitating groups and coaching individuals in leadership development and executive career management. I coach here in the cities and virtually around the country. I also facilitate monthly networking opportunities to help executives and C-Level individuals keep their network fresh and develop peer connections. Helping them be visible leads to business contacts and job opportunities.
2) Where did you get the idea for your business? For 14 years prior to starting my own coaching practice, I worked for a global HR consulting firm helping people,
- Through career decisions leading to successful career advancement.
- Think more strategically and act more tactically during a job search.
- Rediscover their leadership and core competencies.
- Identify their core values to ensure leadership growth and secure a good fit in their next position.
3) What makes your business unique? One differentiating factor in my coaching whether employed or in job transition is focusing on leadership-development coaching and investing in you as a leader. In today’s competitive marketplace, the ability to lead and demonstrate that value is critical to attract the right employers that invest in a high-performing workforce. You cannot outsource your leadership skills. I believe leadership is influence and the ability to influence is the result of adding values to others. I help individuals discover their leadership strengths and how to communicate and promote their leadership brand. The value I bring is building trusting, respected relationships with my clients. I focus on a collaborative effort to help my clients discern, discover, and communicate their wisdom to gain results.
4) What is your ‘elevator speech’? Our mantra is we provide insightful leadership and career strategies for leaders.
5) What are the keys to your success? I have tried to be faith-based re: decisions and direction of the business. Core values for me are: integrity comes first and character you can trust. Practicing a faith-based paradigm grants me new ways of thinking, new ways of working, and new ways of living. I try to always function with enthusiasm and a positive attitude while producing quality work. I am a purpose-driven, Kingdom-principled, and a success-oriented individual. I work hard to not be distracted by things and people I cannot control.
6) What is the one piece of advice you’d like to give to others about running a business? Balancing knowing your core strengths and motivators to running a business, and knowing when to ask for help to address your development areas.
7) How long have you been at OffiCenters? Which location? Since 2nd quarter of 2013 in the Bloomington location.
8) How has your relationship with OffiCenters changed your business? Very positive so far! My clients who like to meet in person enjoy having a convenient location in a respectful work setting where they feel welcomed.
9) If you could work from anywhere under the sun, where would you choose? Sedona, AZ.
10) Tweet, Blog, LinkedIn, Facebook? I am big advocate of LinkedIn. I have been a member since 2004. I do tweet but not as much I should. Instead of blogging, I am creating video clips for my website.
11) What piece of technology can you not live without? My phone of course!
12) What is one of your favorite quotes? “Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I learn, Involve me and I remember,” Benjamin Franklin
13) Who has been an inspiration in your life? My grand-mere, which is French for grandmother. She taught me to practice the “Golden Rule” in life, and appreciate liberty & freedom. She lived through communism & the depression.
14) When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you use it? Exercise, Cook, and Ministry Work.
15) If you had a long weekend with unlimited funds, where would you go? Tuscany, Italy.
16) If you could be any fictional character, whom would you choose and why? M ‘Lynn Eatenton, played by Sally Field from the movie Steel Magnolias. M ‘Lynn realizes how emotionally strong she is after experiencing the death of her daughter, and the greatest gift God has given her as a woman. This scene always stayed with me, “I find it amusing. Men are supposed to be made out of steel or something. I just sat there. I just held Shelby’s hand. There was no noise, no tremble, just peace. Oh God. I realize as a woman how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life.”
17) What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? Ciao Bell in Edina.
18) What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers, Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin, My Way, Frank Sinatra, Harvest Moon, Neil Young, Angel, Sarah McLachlan, Hail Mary, Gentle Woman, Angelina, The Lord’s Prayer, Andrea Bocelli.
19) If you could paint a picture what would you paint and why? The red rock landscape in Sedona, AZ and Moab, Utah, because it is God’s natural beauty of erosion and weathering creating a spectacular landscape of natural art for over 300 million years.
20) What is the best way for people to find out more about you and your business? My website: www.ecinsight.com; and my email, barb@ecinsight.com.