There is so much uncertainty and anxiety in the world that it’s hard to get grounded in our confidence.
But then again, maybe you weren’t. And that’s OK, because international workplace and leadership expert Holland Haiis says we can learn to be as limitless as those who had that extra push as children and developed into ultra-high achieving adults with the confidence of a Tiger.
“When we think about the journey of confidence and feeling empowered, it really starts when we’re babies, when we’re children,” said Haiis, a workplace and leadership expert. “Some people grow up with very neurotic parents and they mean well, but it’s ‘Don’t touch that’ or ‘Oh, it’s dirty,’ or ‘Be careful, you’ll fall!’ And that ends up being who we are – we’re afraid to do things. We can absolutely catch up with, as my mother used to say, ‘those who had more turns at bat.’”
In both her practice and her book, “Consciously Connecting: A Simple Process to Reconnect in a Disconnected World,” Haiis promotes a gentle approach. “One of the best ways to build confidence is to follow Nike’s advice and ‘Just Do It,’” she says, as we nudge ourselves into an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.
“Part of our challenge is that we’ve been through a lot in the last 16-20 years – the ‘Me Too’ movement, three large elections, each more contentious than the last, the pandemic, the cost at the grocery store and daycare – all that has disrupted our nervous systems. There is so much uncertainty and anxiety in the world that it’s hard to get grounded in our confidence. That’s why it is so important to be comfortable physically in our bodies.”
Haiis, who has degrees and certificates in many areas, including behavioral and applied positive psychology, theater, stress mastery, corporate training and team dynamics, uses science-based tools to help people calm their nervous system, quiet the negative messages and practice facing their fears. “It could be something as simple as standing on stage,” says Haiis, an international speaker who spends much of her time presenting to audiences.
“At leadership events, when someone tells me they want to feel comfortable and confident as a public speaker, I’ll bring them up on stage. We’ll walk around while others are on a break. They’ll be able to look out into the audience and feel a little more at ease with the idea of being in front of an auditorium full of people.”
She also recommends asking for the training we need to develop the skills required to advance with confidence. “People want and need soft skills to take them higher – to ignite a team, resolve conflict or inspire creative thinking. We need the tools to help us do our jobs better.”
Haiis is speaking at the sixth annual Prescott Area ATHENA Leadership Awards, 3-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12, at Starting Point, hosted by Flagstaff Business News and Quad Cities Business News. In her presentation, “Limitless: What Makes You Unstoppable,” Haiis will share actionable strategies to help attendees unlock internal validation that doesn’t depend on permission and replace inner resistance with intentional ritual.
“You’ll walk away with a framework to move from friction to flow and a mindset that doesn’t flinch,” she said. Tickets are $65 at www.PrescottATHENA.com.
In addition, Haiis is offering a live, online “Reset and Reboot Resiliency Course,” this fall to prepare participants for the stress of the holiday season and power them up for the New Year. FBN readers who register at www.hollandhaiis.com/resiliency-courses can use the code word ATHENA to secure 5% of the proceeds as a donation in support of women and the Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards. To hear more from Holland Haiis, visit Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks.com. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Bonnie Stevens is the editor of FBN. She is a career journalist and public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@gmail.com.
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