My (lack of) Ambition — Lead With Catalyst I work with leaders and organizations often as they define their Vision, Mission, and Values (or Dream/Path/Promise) and set their strategic priorities for years to come. I help them clarify their cau...

"I’m not a world changer, I’m a people changer. Sometimes a team and organization changer."

Some reflection on ambition, being in awe, and finding my own place...

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/my-...

Apples and Authority — Lead With Catalyst The healthiest leaders have worked on their own understanding of power and authority. They understand that it is a responsibility that comes with benefits and obligations. And they accept that using a...

“Dealing with the “bad apple” is a time to use authority.

Winning over a difficult person can be one of the most satisfying experiences a leader can have. But if that fails, to protect the synchronicity of the rest of the team.”

#healthyleaders

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/app...

Just Ten Minutes… — Lead With Catalyst *Phone buzzes with an incoming text message* “Hey Chris do you have ten minutes?’ It happens a couple times pretty much every week; and I like it.

When a client texts me and says "Do you have ten minutes?"...
www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/jus...

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

#FitnessForDuty #TrumpContagion #HealthyLeaders @bandylee.bsky.social @cultexpert.freedomofmind.com youtube.com/watch?v=7fKE...

The American Exception — Lead With Catalyst This isn’t meant to be a political statement, but a practical one. As charity leaders in Canada we need to learn from the past and recognize the current reality; relying on the USA for programs, partn...

"As charity leaders in Canada we need to learn from the past and recognize the current reality; relying on the USA for programs, partners, or supporters was never a sure thing and it’s probably getting more difficult."

#charityleadership #healthyleaders

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/the...

On Off-Ramps — Lead With Catalyst Loyalty to religious institutions, pop culture heroes, and most of all, to political parties and leaders is in turmoil. Typically, as this happens some see it as a betrayal and demand greater loyalty;...

It's good to be loyal, but at some point we need to consider whether it's time to turn away.

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/on-...

Why I Am A Volunteer JEDI — Lead With Catalyst We are in a season where prominent corporations are ending their DEI programs and some people are getting lots of attention by decrying the very idea of promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. And...

I don't usually repost my own work so quickly, but...

#DEI #justice #values #healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/why...

2024 Recap — Lead With Catalyst When I reflect back on 2024, the third year since Lead With Catalyst was launched as my own business as a spin off from Catalyst Foundation, some of the statistics definitely help tell the story. I wo...

Here’s a glimpse into how I spent my third year serving charity leaders and teams as Lead With Catalyst.

Deeply thankful for the trust these organizations put in me!

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/202...

Missing the Mandate — Lead With Catalyst The danger of a mandate is that it can become the identity and personality of an organization when it should be seen and treated as a temporary priority. Too often I’ve seen organizations hang on too...

Politicians love to claim they've been given a mandate from the people.

As charity leaders we need to be careful about what we believe our mandate is and how long we follow it.

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/mis...

Arrogant Organizations — Lead With Catalyst Organizational Arrogance happens when we are too short on self-doubt. (Of course, as with individuals, arrogance is usually just an avoidance of dealing with our experience of insecurity). When we bel...

In response to yesterday's post about Organizational Insecurity; here's the flip side:

What happens when an organization becomes arrogant?

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/arr...

Insecure Organizations — Lead With Catalyst Every organization needs some degree of insecurity to avoid becoming complacent. Improvement starts with dissatisfaction. But when it becomes a part of our shared personality it becomes a distraction ...

What happens when insecurity becomes an organizational personality?

And what can we do about it?

#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/ins...

The Discipline Trap — Lead With Catalyst The leaders and teams I work with are highly productive. They know how to get stuff done. In many cases they grind out enormous activity from limited resources. And almost all of them feel like they ...

"The leaders and teams I work with are highly productive. They know how to get stuff done. In many cases they grind out enormous activity from limited resources.
And almost all of them feel like they aren’t disciplined enough."

#healthyleaders

www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/the...

Grown Ups — Lead With Catalyst It’s a little disorienting to recognize that you are now the highest ranking person. You are the one in charge, who is expected to know what to do. Healthy leaders understand the need for grown ups i...

"The charitable sector is experiencing a concerning shortage of experienced leadership as a generation who have built and guided many of our organizations are stepping away.
Ready or not, we’re the grown ups now."
#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations
www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/gro...

The Boss — Lead With Catalyst After nearly 3 hours of rock, without an intermission, Bruce led the band to their exit. But instead of going first down the ramp, he stopped. He turned and had a moment with each of the dozen or so p...

A few weeks ago I fulfilled a decades long dream and saw Bruce Springsteen in concert. It was an epic 3 hour performance, but what has stuck with me most was a quiet moment at the end of the show...
www.leadwithcatalyst.com/insights/the...
#healthyleaders #healthyorganizations