Lead Culture with Jenni Catron

Many of us are resistant to change. It can be really difficult. AND it can be the pivotal moment that alters our future. There are certain critical moments that we, as leaders, have a chance to change our minds--to think differently in order to lead better. And when we do, the outcomes for those we lead are extraordinary. Let's dig into how we can resist our own resistance to change and lead others to do the same.Check out last week’s episode to hear Jenni's thoughts about what must NOT change HERE or wherever you love to listen to podcasts. In that episode, we talked about what must NOT change in ourselves and our organizations. The bottom line was this: getting clear perspective on our purpose is essential for us to lead well for the long haul.In this episode, we’ll tackle an equally weighty and crucial question: What MUST change?Highlights from Jenni's teaching:Seth Godin explains our resistance to change like this: “We resist change because it pushes us a place of incompetence.” No one enjoys feeling incompetent. Or out of control. BUT, this is where we as leaders must change our mind - we have to be willing to be change agents.With clarity on what must not change – purpose and mission – a leader must be perpetually curious and hunting for what must change. In fact, the perspective shift that is essential for every leader at every level is to see themselves as a change agent. You must be continually committed to identifying what needs to change and persistent to leading through it at a pace that others can stand. A Key Tool for Being a Change Agent is the Keep/Start/Stop Exercise.Often we convince ourselves that we can keep adding--more efforts and initiatives--without ever evaluating what needs to stop.More is not better. More is just more. And adding more without strategically stopping just leads to exhaustion and overwhelm. We’re okay with change when it means addition. We dislike change when it means subtraction. Before the new year begins to run away with you, here are three assignments:Schedule time - a couple hours or an entire day - to get away and think through the questions: What Must Change? What are you resisting? What are you afraid of? What are you avoiding? (Any variation of these questions will help you get honest about where you need to lead through change this year.)Do the Keep/Start/Stop exercise. Grab a sheet of paper or go to your whiteboard and make three columns labeled Keep/Start/Stop. Then brainstorm each column. If you have starts but no stops, you need to dig deeper and be honest about what you’re unwilling to let go of.Pull your team together and repeat the exercise.As leaders, we have to fight for focus. Opportunities abound. Good things vie for our attention. Your job as a leader is to determine what must change. Where do you need to think differently to lead better this year? Change starts with you. Lead well!Be sure to check out our free resource, the 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership Assessment. It's sure to help you on your path to becoming a leader willing to be a change agent!We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

There are certain critical moments that we, as leaders, have a chance to change our minds--to think differently in order to lead better. And when we do, the outcomes for those we lead are extraordinary. In this episode, our Founder and CEO Jenni Catron shares about some of the perspective shifts she's made to take her leadership to the next level. Highlights from Jenni's teaching:Sometimes, we need to think differently to lead better. There are perspective shifts critical to our success.When we shift our perspective & see things in a new way, growth occurs. When growth occurs, it’s impossible to stay stagnant.Example perspective shifts:Climbing the leadership ladder was not about me, but those I was leading.I was ridiculously in charge of my own life & needed to take responsibility for my own growth instead of waiting for someone else to map out my path. I should quit waiting for someone else to step up & take charge & realize I’m the one who needs to make the hard call & do the right thing.Jenni often asks leaders: What if you’re frustrated about that because you’re the one whose supposed to do something about it?When we challenge our perspective, it leads to breakthrough moments that define our leadership.Study from Barna 82% of young people believe society is in a leadership crisis. 1/3 believe that what it takes to be an effective leader is changing. The leadership landscape is changing.Leaders need to have the emotional intelligence to lead yourself well, to navigate the critical moments of your organization, & have the ability to discern the emotional current of your team and the culture. It’s possible and essential.Can you think up? Can you change your mind?Perspective Shift #1: Who you’re becoming is more important than what you’re doing.Do the right things at the right time.Identify the foundational elements of who we are as leaders, while identifying the areas we need to adapt and grow & change with our surroundings.What must NOT change? Your core purpose: personal mission, vision & values.Clarity of purpose is essential for longevity.Have you experienced a crisis of purpose moment?Is your leadership foundation set?Defining your personal mission, vision & values is imperative.Check out Jenni's book CLOUT: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence for help determining your personal purpose & mission. Free Download: Clout Study Guide Do you have a sense of purpose that can transcend any job, role or title?Do you believe that who you are becoming is more important that what you’re doing?Free Resource: If you'd like to take a step toward developing the type of self-awareness we talked about today, we have a great FREE resource for you. Click here for the 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership Assessment. Listen, Review, & Subscribe!Please rate and review the podcast. This helps us grow our reach and bless others with free leadership content. Subscribe to The Jenni Catron Leadership Podcast via We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

There are certain critical moments that we, as leaders, have a chance to change our minds--to think differently in order to lead better. And when we do, the outcomes for those we lead are extraordinary. In this episode, our Founder and CEO Jenni Catron interviews her friend Holly Moore. With years of varied experience, Holly's insights from her leadership journey are extremely helpful and inspiring...and we get the added bonus of listening in while she does some live coaching with Jenni!About Holly:Holly Moore is an accomplished senior executive with more than twenty years of diverse leadership experience in a publicly traded for-profit company as well as both large and start-up non-profit organizations.  She is the President of Hollis Strategies (www.HollisStrategies.com) where she collaborates with individuals and organizations to develop strategic plans that increase their influence and grow their organizations.  Holly is also a sought-after speaker and leadership coach who uses her expertise as a Certified Myers Briggs Type Indicator Practitioner and a Certified 5 Voices Coach to discuss personality-based communication patterns and how they apply to relationships and team performance. Holly has spoken to audiences throughout the United States as well in Egypt, Brazil, Zambia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Singapore.Holly’s passion is to help leaders maximize their influence and impact to exponentially grow their organizations. Some Highlights from Jenni and Holly’s conversation:The more I know myself, the better I can lead myself. And then I can lead other people.Consistently pray this prayer: God, give me wisdom, discernment and favor so that I can wisely assess people in situations, I can have discernment about where people’s skills and strengths are, and I can have favor to know how to successfully help them navigate different career transitions themselves.The 5 Voices SystemIf you create a culture in which every voice around the table feels deeply heard, deeply valued and respected you’re going to make wiser decisions optimize team performance and execute at a much higher level.Have we built the foundation block of being able to communicate well with others, have trusting relationships, people feel that they can share and be heard and that’s the bedrock for executing every piece of strategic planning you could ever want to do?Connect with Holly:Hollis StrategiesFree Resource:If you'd like to take a step toward developing the type of self-awareness we talked about today, we have a great FREE resource that I'd love to get into your hands. Click here for the 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership Assessment. Listen, Review, and Subscribe!Listen to Episode 34, "Change Your Mind--An Interview with Holly Moore."Please rate and review the podcast. This helps us grow our reach and bless others with free leadership content.Subscribe to The Jenni Catron Leadership Podcast via Apple PodcastsWe need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

There are certain critical moments that we, as leaders, have a chance to change our minds--to think differently in order to lead differently. And when we do, the outcomes for those we lead are extraordinary. In this episode, our Founder and CEO Jenni Catron has great conversation with Lindsey Epperly, founder of Epperly Travel and EntreTravel, about some of the mental shifts she’s made while growing her business, investing in her team and developing as a leader.About Lindsey:Lindsey Epperly wandered into the travel industry at the age of 19 by complete accident: she walked into a local travel agency looking for a brochure and walked out with a job planning honeymoons. She built up her book of business while attending the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) and launched her own brand through an entrepreneurship competition. Five years into the role, she desired to begin training and mentoring other agents and decided to launch Epperly Travel, a boutique agency based in Atlanta with a focus on a modern, innovative approach to travel planning. Epperly Travel has recently received the prestigious honor of the Bulldog 100 List, for 2020 representing the fastest growing businesses led by UGA Alumni. Over the course of her career, Lindsey has been recognized as one of Travel Agent Magazine's Top 30 Under 30, Wendy Perrin's WOW List Caribbean expert, and Jezebel Magazine's Trailblazing 10. Lindsey's greatest passion is mentoring others in business and, of course, traveling - usually with her husband, who just last year quit his job in finance to join the Epperly Travel team.  Lindsey is passionate about mentoring and training others in the travel industry, so much so that she and her husband recently launched a separate travel advisor training company called EntreTravel, an online training and certification program dedicated to teaching advisors how to run a successful travel business.Some Highlights from Jenni and Lindsey’s conversation:In navigating the transition from technician or practitioner to owner and CEO, Lindsey describes the theme of her leadership growth in the first 5 years of being a business owner as this: “learning to let go of control and let others who are capable step up and do their jobs and do their jobs well without me getting in our own way.”When we realize our own capacity, we can place people in the right spots. When people are in the right spots, they shine.When faced with the unexpected transition of a key employee and being blindsided by the flood of emotions that followed, Lindsey says she realized...We had a culture problemWe needed to prepare for the work-life balance dynamic of working with my soon-to-be husbandIdentify the experienced people whose advice and counsel you want to seek out.“I realized I was good at asking for advice, but I didn’t realize how bad I was at asking for help.”On seasons of growth that can feel overwhelming: “Your natural response can be to double down and do more, work more, but the better response is to pour into yourself.”Some team culture shifts Lindsey enacted:Culture shift to eliminate bottleneck and to encourage team members to be open with and learning from each other.Recreate and environment for water cooler conversations in a virtual world.Self-leadership to focus on what only she could do--stepping ouWe need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

Nobody likes to be faced with their own limitations. Particularly hard-working, self-starting leaders like you. So what do we do when life’s circumstances bring us up close and personal with the limits of our capacity? In this episode, Jenni Catron, Founder and CEO of the 4Sight Group, shares what she’s currently learning in a season that’s forcing her to slow down and lead herself well.We often associate self-leadership with things like discipline, and discipline with things like productivity and efficiency, but the discipline I needed to learn this month was that sometimes leading yourself means slowing down, honoring your limits and making choices that you don’t enjoy.There’s a conversation in the new movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” in which the journalist Lloyd asks Fred Rogers’ wife Joanne this question: “What’s it like to live with a saint?” She replies that she doesn’t like that word because it implies that what Mr. Rogers does and who he is unattainable. She said that what Fred does is a PRACTICE that he works on every day. Isn’t that a perfect picture of leading yourself well in the area of discipline and the incredible impact it can have on others?“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7Our actions as leaders speak more loudly than our words. Those we lead and influence will be evaluating our actions, and they will never fully know our hearts. Actions speak louder than our intentions. Our leadership will be evaluated by what we do, not what we intend.Disciplined moments are lonely moments, but these are the moments that build the foundation of influence.4 Habits of a Disciplined LeaderSet goals in all areas of life: personal, professional, family and funDisciplined leaders organize their lives to reflect what they value most.Take InitiativeDisciplined leaders can be trusted to do what they say they’ll do.Know When to Say NoDisciplined leaders are hyper-aware of the tendency of urgent issues to overtake their lives, and they have the courage to step up and retake control rather than becoming a victim to the tyranny of the urgent.Be Clear on What Only You can DoDisciplined leaders know that when everyone plays their respective part to the best of their ability, the whole team is better.If you'd like to take a step toward developing the type of self-awareness we talked about today, we have a great FREE resource that I'd love to get into your hands. It's called the 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership Assessment, and you can get your copy by simply texting 4Sight to (773) 770-4377 for this free download. In addition, you'll receive our weekly Leadership Insights that will continue to help you on your journey as thriving leader.Also, check out Jenni’s book The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership!We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

We all want to achieve success. And there are markers and indicators that will help us to do just that. One of the chief of those is whether or not we will take the responsibility of leading ourselves well in order to plant ourselves on the path toward success. In this episode, Jenni Catron, 4Sight's Founder and CEO, disusses the ways in which we can invest in our own leadership, that will, in turn, benefit all those we are privileged to lead.Jenni's book The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership"There is a person with whom you spend more time than any other, a person who has more influence over you, and more ability to interfere with or to support your growth than anyone else.  This ever-present companion is your own self."  -Dr. Pamela Butler, Clinical PsychologistSelf-awareness is the foundation of leading ourselves well.3 Core Elements of Self-awarenessAwareness of myselfAwareness of othersAwareness of how others experience themselves around meThe 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary LeadershipHeartSoulMindStrength These dimensions comprise our whole self.Leading from Your Heart1)    Lead with an understanding of who you are. Things to consider:•    Do you see tasks or people first?•    Are you an introvert or extrovert? What gives you energy? Knowing this will help you better manage your energy when you are with others.•    Are you independent or interdependent?2)    Learn how your experiences have shaped you. 3)    The best of our leadership will emerge from emotional intelligence. This means understanding your emotions, desires, and how you influence others.Leading from Your SoulThe soul is the part of us that longs to know God.  It’s the epicenter of morality, integrity, humility, and servanthood.Leading from soul = what you value. A key part of self-awareness is understanding what you value - what’s truly important to you. Understanding your values is the key to learning what drives you. What are your values and what is their source? What are your core motivations and convictions? What is your driving ‘why’?Take time to reflect, and recognize any patterns present in your behavior... how you manage your time, your priorities or decisions.  What does your calendar tell you that you value?Consider your values in every sector of life: relationally, physically, spiritually and professionally. What principles do you stand on in each of these areas of life?Your actions, decisions, conversations and behaviors are all driven by what you value.Why do you handle conflict the way you do? What is the root behind how you make decisions? Why do certain conversations excite you and others drain you? Consider your character and integrity – what is true and what do you want to be true? What needs to change so that your reality and aspirations are congruent? What morals do you live by and how does that impact your influence. How do you want people to see you? What do you want to be known for? WhWe need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

We all want to lead our teams well, to make a difference and to be successful in our endeavors. BUT, we've all found ourselves in moments where we feel stuck or in situations where we look back on our day, bewildered and frustrated, wondering why things just didn’t go well.Many times, our feelings of being stuck or frustrated come back to a simple, though difficult-to-admit, truth: we're just not leading ourselves well. That's the bad news. The good news is, it's never to late to learn to lead yourself better! In this episode, the first in a series all about Self-Leadership, Jenni Catron teaches us about a key facet of leading ourselves well: self-awareness.Highlights from Jenni’s teaching:3 Reasons Self-Awareness is EssentialIt is the strongest predictor of success.It equips you to know where to focus.It actually makes you less self-focused.3 Important Steps of Self-Awareness1. Awareness of MyselfSelf-Awareness starts with self-observation. How well do I know myself? Do I know what I think, feel, and believe? Do I act in a way that is an accurate reflection of how people experience me?2. Awareness of OthersSelf-Awareness increases with the observation of others. Do I know the people around me and do I understand how they will respond to interactions and conversations?3. Awareness of How Others Experience Themselves Around MeThis final stage involves paying attention to how others feel about themselves when they’re around me. Ask yourself, “Have I ever noticed how I make people feel about themselves around me?” Do you make people feel insecure or confident about their decisions? Do you make them feel empowered or apathetic about their choices? Do I make them feel creative or stifled with their projects? Application point: Prioritize time in your life to consider what do you think, feel, and believe. When’s the last time you asked yourself those questions? How do others experience you? What would you like to change?For a great FREE resource to help you on your path toward greater self-awareness, simply text 4Sight to (773) 770-4377. In addition, you'll receive our weekly Leadership Insights that will continue to help you on your journey as thriving leader.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

We all have a vision for where we want to go, but making a plan for how to get there is another thing altogether. In this episode, 4Sight Founder and CEO Jenni Catron shares practical questions we can ask that help us build a successful strategy to achieve our vision and reach our goals.Some highlights from Jenni's teaching:Be sure to listen to Episodes 27, 28 and 29 in which Jenni, Jeff Henderson and Tim Lucas explore the theme of Strategy!3 P’s of StrategyPatiencePurpose Perspective 3 Questions to Ask to Create a Successful Strategy1. Where do you want to go? If your vision is the destination, your strategy is the route you take to get there. Brainstorm the list of goals and ideas you want to enact in the next year.Narrow your list to 2-3 goals to focus on for the next year. (Remember: If everything is important, nothing is.) 2.     What is realistic?Unrealistic goals discourage and demotivate your team. Consider time commitment, budget, staffing, etc. Be honest and revise goals as necessary. 3.     How will we get there?Get even MORE specific by asking:Who is responsible for leading through this goal? Who wakes up feeling responsible for making progress toward this goal? Needs to be 1 person and it should always be you!What are the steps necessary to accomplish it?The 4 Disciplines of Execution defines these steps as “lead measures” (most high-impact things your team must do to reach the goal)They must be predictive of reaching the goal They can be influenced by the teamWhat are the key dates and deadlines? Accountability helps lead to progress.Does budget need to be allocated?Answering these questions will help you move from ideas to action!If you want to take action on creating your strategic plan, download our free workbook by texting “4sight” to 773-770-4377 or click here.Share your strategic plans with us on twitter or instagram at @get4sight or on Facebook at The 4Sight Group.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

On Strategy--Featuring Tim Lucas Knowing those you lead, those you're trying to reach and the cultural currents that affect them is crucial to successful leadership. Continuing our series on strategy, this episode features an conversation between our host Jenni Catron and Time Lucas. Tim Lucas is the founder & Lead Pastor of Liquid Church in New Jersey. A dynamic communicator, Tim is known for his heart, humor, & creativity. He recently released a book called Liquid Church: Powerful Currents to Saturate Your City For Christ. He shares how an "accidental" strategy led to the church's explosive growth, and the currents he explores are truly strategies we can employ in ANY arena in which we lead. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

As leaders, we all want to see those we lead come together to accomplish a BIG mission. But we can, at times, get bogged down and become overwhelmed with the HOW. That's where adopting an effective strategy comes into play. Before we can enact that strategy, though, we must root it in a stable foundation: purpose. The question we all face is this: How do we lay a purposeful, strategic foundation? A certified strategist and a passionate student of applying strategic plans in varying contexts, Jenni teaches us how to build a strategy that stays aligned with our vision by discovering the foundational purpose that serves as the firm footing for everything we do.We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!