Be the Example: The Power of Our Actions to Inspire Others Written By: Jim Grout Last week I watched the Vermont gubernatorial debate between our existing Governor, Phil Scott, and Amanda Janoo, his challenger. The setting was somewhat surreal in this day and age. Both sat at a round table, joined by the moderator from […]
Month: October 2026
Adventure Isn’t What You Think It Is: Reclaiming the Word and Why It Matters for Education
Adventure Isn’t What You Think It Is: Reclaiming the Word and Why It Matters for Education Written By: Ryan McCormick At the start of almost every year, in one of our first sessions, we introduce students to a game we call Steal the Chicken. At first, it feels simple, almost playful. It’s similar to Red […]
Why People Stay: The Power of Connection in the Workplace
Why People Stay: The Power of Connection in the Workplace Written By: Jim Grout I was crunching some numbers this morning, not about our finances but about our staff here at High 5. The numbers tell a story about what makes an organization successful. More than half of our current staff have been with High 5 […]
When Control Feels Safer Than Curiosity: Ego, Uncertainty, and Adventure Learning
When Control Feels Safer Than Curiosity: Ego, Uncertainty, and Adventure Learning Written By: Ryan McCormick I don’t believe people struggle with uncertainty because they lack courage or creativity. It’s more about seeing uncertainty as a threat. Research shows that the brain’s defensive circuits respond strongly to ambiguous or unpredictable danger, what we call in the […]
Getting to the Heart of Difficult Conversations
Getting to the Heart of Difficult Conversations Written By: Jim Grout Like many leaders, I always found it challenging to have the “difficult conversation” with staff members when it was needed. But over time I got better at it when I discovered the key to getting to the root of the issue. I showed up […]
What Does Your Leadership Story Say About You?
What Does Your Leadership Story Say About You? Written By: Jim Grout Throughout my book, When in Doubt… Give Them Your Heart, I use stories to communicate my message and prompt reflection. Such an approach is not unique to me. I’m reminded of a book written by the late Colin Powell, a four star general […]
Language of Emotions: A Diverse Approach To Supporting Emotional Expression
Language of Emotions: A Diverse Approach To Supporting Emotional Expression Written By: Ryan McCormick “All emotions are mentionable and manageable.” — Fred Rogers Fred Rogers’ timeless words remind us that emotions, no matter how big or uncomfortable, are not problems to be fixed, they are messages to be heard. This belief lies at the heart […]
One Step at a Time: A Lesson in Resilient Leadership
One Step at a Time: A Lesson in Resilient Leadership Written By: Jim Grout If you learn about yourself in times of crisis, then Covid was the perfect venue. At a time when the entire world was anxious, scared and stressed, our High 5 experience was a learning lab for experiencing how important resilience was […]