Culture by Design, Not Default: Building Healthy Teams with Jenni Catron

You can have a compelling mission and a sharp strategy, but if your culture is unhealthy or unclear, your team will stay stuck.

In this episode, Alan sits down with culture coach and author Jenni Catron to unpack why culture matters more than we think and how clarity becomes the foundation for trust, engagement, and healthy growth.

Jenni shares her own journey from the music industry into executive church leadership, and the jarring contrast between a life-giving culture and a toxic one. She explains why leaders can’t just “hope” for a great environment – they need a plan to build it with intention.

They talk about the signs your culture is drifting, why people often go quiet long before they quit, how to invite honest feedback without losing your voice as a leader, and why patience and persistence are essential when you start changing long-standing patterns on your team.

If you lead a staff, a volunteer team, or you’re trying to rebuild a culture you inherited, this conversation will give you language, practical steps, and hope.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why great culture is really about clarity of who you are and how you work together

• How the environment leaders create can make or break team engagement

• The subtle warning signs your team has stopped believing their voice matters

• How to ask for feedback when some decisions aren’t actually up for debate

• Why culture change takes 6–12 months of patience and persistence

• Simple rhythms (meetings, one-on-ones, shout-outs) that reinforce a healthy culture over time

Healthy and high-impact leadership doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in cultures that are clear, honest, and aligned around the mission. This episode will help you take your next step in building that kind of environment.

Jenni is the author of several books including Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership. She loves a fabulous cup of tea, great books, learning the game of tennis and hiking with her husband. Jenni can be found on social media at @jennicatron and at www.get4sight.com.

Grab a copy of Culture Matters

For more tools, coaching, and resources to help you become a healthy and high-impact leader, visit www.h2leadership.com.

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