About Lara Heacock

Work, Lead, & Live with Kindness.

My Mission? To create a culture where business is a true balance of head and heart.

Because without it, we limit our capacities – both as leaders and as humans.

There's a way to blend head and heart in business...

Without sacrificing innovation, passion, or the bottom line.

Why Kindness?

Too many companies in corporate America are in crisis; stuck in unhelpful and ineffective structures that drive a culture of empty competition, mistrust, and poor communication.

The culture within our corporations seems to reflect the deepening divide going on in the world at large – whether it be in society, politics, or the generations – dialogue is being replaced by disconnect. Add in technology, geographically dispersed teams, and culture clashes, and it’s easy to believe that work would be so much easier if it wasn’t for other people!

My work is rooted in the belief that the answer to this disconnect isn’t found in another app or more conference calls, but in kindness, dialogue, and a smarter (not to mention more human) approach to hiring and leadership.

Kindness in Business

It starts with how we hire. Whether you’re a big company or a small startup, infusing your hiring process with kindness is critical.
It continues by facilitating dialogue that produces great leadership and great results – talking to people, NOT about them.
It’s about allowing individuals to thrive as they work towards the collective good of the organization – without sacrificing their personal lives.
It’s about leading full lives – genuinely balancing work and home so we have the energy and resilience to perform at the top of our game.
It’s about building healthy teams that thrive without succumbing to burnout.
It’s about attracting great talent – and supporting them to thrive once they get here.
It’s about recognizing that conflict isn’t always unhealthy – it’s a part of business, that when we temper it with kindness, can be productive.
It’s about encouraging people to take smart risks.
It’s about empowering staff to be autonomous.
It’s about supporting without micromanaging.
It’s about providing honest, consistent feedback (not just at review time.)
It’s always about giving woman and under-represented populations an equal voice, and being not only diverse, but inclusive.

The Methodology

I have developed a unique four-part process to help leaders and organizations infuse kindness into their culture – from hiring to leadership. Through this process, leaders are able to take ownership of the challenge and find practical solutions that address the needs of both the business and the individual.

You can see the process in action here.

The Results?

Satisfaction and engagement rise, and at the end of the day, people feel good about the work they’ve done and the place in which they’ve done it.

Retention goes up because you hire the right folks.

Conflict reduces, as does work based stress and the associated problems that accompany it (i.e. burnout, presenteeism, absenteeism.)

I Know Corporate America

I bring 20 years of working in corporations across the country, including a billion dollar public company where I oversaw a $2.5MM program.

I have over a decade of experience in Talent Acquisition and leadership, have managed geographically dispersed teams, and mentored and coached associates in the US and abroad.

I’m an MBA, ICF credentialed coach (PCC), award-winning writer, Huffington Post author, Editor in Chief of popular personal development blog Kind Over Matter, and in-demand speaker. My pronouns are she/hers.

I’m also obsessed with how we change the culture of corporate America from one that’s stuck in an adversarial and bureaucratic communication style to one that’s rooted in kindness as a tool for change.

Who I Work With

I work with companies who ‘get it’ – those who pay more than lip service to the idea of ‘we value our people’ and genuinely recognize that their people are their greatest asset. This starts with the hiring process, and hiring with kindness.

I work with leaders who want to make a difference – people who don’t want to lose themselves to their job but occasionally can’t see the forest for the trees.

They’re experts for everyone else and are used to people coming to them for advice, but they struggle to give it to themselves. That’s where I come in.

I help leaders cut through the static and get to the heart of the matter. I’m an impartial adviser and my only vested interest is in them.

My Strengths
&
Values

Strategy

Empathy

Leadership

Humanity

Honesty

Integrity

Courage

Love of Learning

What Clients are Saying:

Working with Lara this past year has been a game changer. She helped me take control of my career by gaining clarity about my strengths, examining my weaknesses, and considering new possibilities. Lara's insight helped me to make some major breakthroughs about patterns in my life and finally get a handle on my stress. I draw on the tools she introduced me to almost daily. Having such a kind and committed partner in my journey made everything better. I'm incredibly grateful for our time together.

- KateOperations Leader

“Before working with Lara I truly felt I was at my ‘breaking point’ – stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and feeling like I was on a constant ‘hamster wheel’, spinning out of control.
Lara helped me to get my joy and confidence back. I’m now able to balance work and life more clearly with renewed focus. I have my happy life back”

- JillianSr. Project Manager

“I’m grateful for the freedom and confidence working with Lara has given me in my professional life, I no longer think I’m an odd-ball, I feel one of the most capable people out there!”

- NicolaMarketing Manager

“I described myself before coaching as having ‘lost my skip’. I had no job satisfaction, no ambition and just no lust for life.
Lara understood my situation and helped me get to a place where I not only fit but where I can grow. So, so, so happy.”

- MarinaTraining Director

I’ve had the opportunity to work with many coaches in my career. Lara’s coaching stands out. In working with Lara, I learned to soften my perfectionist nature and recalibrate my relationship to work - stressing less and delivering more. She was incredibly skillful in switching between allowing me to work through challenges on my own and offering clear advice, drawing on her extensive experience as a leader herself. Listening - and her reflecting back what she heard - led me to some important insights. I couldn’t recommend her more highly.

- EmilyC-Suite non-profit leader

I worked with Lara over the course of a year. She guided me through a very challenging turning point in my career. With her direct, inquisitive, and caring approach, she helped me assess what matters to me most in life and in work. From there, we collaborated to identify my most valuable strengths, and then she led me to find my own logical and attainable direction forward. Lara has an incredible way of motivating action and decisiveness in clients without being pushy. She's professional, clear, knowledgeable about business and coaching, and - more than anything - cares about her clients' outcomes.

- PatrickAI Transformation Leader