Shannon Huffman Polson, Author and Founder, The Grit Institute
Shannon is an optimist, creative, badass and keynote speaker. Author of The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World and North of Hope. A Daughter's Arctic Journey. Founder of The Grit Institute. A veteran of Army Aviation and the corporate world.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
LinkedIn, because we focus on getting things done.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
Working with leaders to transform culture with grit, resilience, purpose and story through writing, speaking and learning journeys at The Grit Institute.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
The opportunity to help individuals and organizations make real change. The thrill of transformation!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Look for a job based on your boss, not on the work.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
The opportunity to make a difference in the world. Seeing transformation happen in the people and companies I work with, seeing the light in people’s eyes when they make a story or lesson their own. Afternoon light across the fields, sunrise in the high mountains, bird song of returning birds, good literature, poetry, art, and music. My two sons.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
Founding a board and doing the work to bring a new library to our rural community. Starting a lay-led Episcopal fellowship. My family. The times I've worked to take a risk and push through hardship, to make a positive difference or meaningful contribution, and to be kind.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
In-person, united by something bigger than ourselves.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Grit, resilience, and curiosity.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
That it is not only ok, but good, to do what you love. The rest will follow.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Debbie Millman from Design Matters for her endless curiosity and willingness to take a risk on her creative work and find ways to share it in multiple contexts.
Brene Brown for bringing empathy into conversations of success.
Indra Nooyi for an example of incredible leadership and work to integrate family and work while blazing a trail as a minority woman business leader and still prioritizing taking care of people.
Krista Tippett, for her thoughtful exploration of what matters in life.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Travel, Nordic skiing, backpacking, writing, painting, classical choral performance. Spending time with my husband and two boys.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
It has been a challenge but has required and permitted pivoting to the virtual environment. That has meant a new approach online and working to connect virtually.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I do not have a mentor, though it's an area I'm thinking a lot about lately. I've had the opportunity to work with several young women working toward university or military, as well as transitioning veterans.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Immerse yourself in the field. Determine best practices. Set big goals you break into smaller goals. Work on developing your craft(s). Never stop learning.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Lacking the knowledge of ways to persevere when things are tough and lacking connection to stories - their own and others - relating to purpose and grit.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace." - Amelia Earhart.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Patagonia.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success: making a positive difference in the world and staying connected to what matters most in and out of work. I've written a whole book on the lessons learned. The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World.