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How Do I Develop a Leadership Mindset Before I'm a Manager?
A leadership mindset isn't granted by an org chart. It's built in the gap between "no one told me to" and "I did it anyway."
Toby Adamson
7 days ago3 min read


You Don't Need the Title to Start Leading
Nobody made me a leader. I just started acting like one.
Toby Adamson
Sep 144 min read


What’s the Difference Between a Manager Mindset and a Leadership
I may have watched too many doctor shows on TV.
Toby Adamson
Sep 87 min read


What Is a Leadership Mindset?
The Shift That Changes Everything
Toby Adamson
Sep 10 min read
What Happens When You Finally Stop Holding Back?
Having ideas is easy. Committing to one is harder. In this final post of the 10-discipline leadership series, Toby explores Energetic Engagement and the difference between tinkering and truly investing in an idea, goal, ...
Toby Adamson
Aug 190 min read
Why Can't I Stay Focused When It Matters Most?
TLDR: Presence is one of the most powerful and overlooked leadership disciplines. For years, I relied on multitasking, especially during Zoom meetings, believing I was being productive while my attention was constantly d...
Toby Adamson
Aug 110 min read
What Happens When You Stop Leading Alone?
Leadership becomes lonely when we believe we have to carry every answer ourselves. While solving problems alone may feel efficient, it often limits team ownership, creativity, and trust. True connection requires vulnerab...
Toby Adamson
Aug 40 min read
When Will I Feel Confident Enough to Try?
TLDR: Confidence doesn’t come from already knowing you’ll succeed. It comes from trusting yourself to learn, adapt, and figure things out along the way. Throughout my life, I’ve discovered that the belief that I can lear...
Toby Adamson
Jul 280 min read
What If the Thing You Fear Is the Move You Need?
Fear often feels like a warning sign, but it is usually a story about a future that has not happened yet. When I left a successful software career to become a coach, fear showed up with endless questions about income, fa...
Toby Adamson
Jul 210 min read
What Happens When You Stop Trying to Prove Yourself?
Many leaders believe credibility comes from having all the answers. I used to think that too. But the more I focused on proving myself, the less I created space for others to contribute. Authentic leadership isn't about ...
Toby Adamson
Jul 150 min read
Why Is It So Hard to Trust a Plan That's Working?
Why is it so difficult to trust a process that's working? For many hyperachievers, especially those with a strong Controller saboteur, uncertainty feels like failure. In this post, I share a lesson from my coach training...
Toby Adamson
Jul 80 min read
What If Your Best Instinct Is Actually Your Worst Advisor?
A number of years ago, I had a career decision to make. It was the kind that lands in your lap on a Tuesday and demands an answer by Friday.
Toby Adamson
Jun 300 min read
What If Nothing Is Actually Wrong Right Now?
Acceptance is one of the most misunderstood leadership skills. Many leaders think acceptance means giving up, but it actually means seeing reality clearly and responding to it without adding fear, assumptions, or unneces...
Toby Adamson
Jun 160 min read
What a Wrong Turn Taught Me About Awareness
A wrong turn on a Hawaiian road reminded me how often we make decisions based on assumptions rather than facts. In leadership, the same thing happens when we react to people, situations, and challenges through the lens o...
Toby Adamson
Jun 80 min read
What Does It Really Take to Lead Well?
I discovered ten core disciplines that shape how leaders think, act, and influence others. From awareness and authenticity to confidence, presence, and energetic engagement, these disciplines develop the inner game of le...
Toby Adamson
May 300 min read
Career Advancement: How to Actually Get a Promotion or Raise
You’ve been crushing it. Staying late, leading projects, picking up slack that isn’t yours. And yet, the promotion hasn’t come. The raise hasn’t materialized. You’re watching people with half your output leapfrog into ro...
Toby Adamson
May 280 min read
Career Advancement: 8 Actionable Steps to Reach Your Goals
You're putting in the work, hitting your targets, and still watching other people get promoted ahead of you. It's frustrating—and more common than you'd think.
Toby Adamson
May 250 min read
Are You Avoiding Change Until Things Break?
This final installment of the “15 Lies Women Are Told at Work” series explores why “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is one of the most dangerous beliefs in business and leadership. Using examples like Blockbuster, Kodak...
Toby Adamson
May 120 min read
What If Work Was Meant to Be Enjoyed?
Work does not need to be separate from enjoyment to be professional. Building friendships and creating moments of connection at work improves collaboration, communication, and retention. Drawing from Bonnie Hammer’s pers...
Toby Adamson
Apr 290 min read
What If Winning Isn't The Point?
Winning is not everything. In fact, chasing it at all costs can lead to stress, burnout, and self doubt. Inspired by Bonnie Hammer’s concept of “winner takes all,” this post challenges the idea that success is about beat...
Toby Adamson
Apr 220 min read
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