Leaders who are catalysts inhabit the radical place between the present and the future as they apply activated hope to ignite powerful change in their organizations, communities, and themselves. In this blog for the International Leadership Associatoin, I share 8 key insights leaders need to strike the match of potential.
As Leader in Residence at the Atlantic Institute, I was thrilled to work with the institute’s Fellows to find common factors in their work and tell the stories of how they function as catalytic leaders working to meaningfully move the needle on the systemic, wicked problems facing the world. Those lessons are shared in The Catalyst’s Way – A Handbook for People Who Want to Change the World and the companion guide, The Catalyst’s Way – Foundational Storytellers (Oxford University). Both are free to download at the links above.
As discussed in the book, a key to being an effective catalyst is the ability to “Apply Activated Hope” — a sense that taking purposeful action will change outcomes and make a positive impact by creating sustainable wealth and wellbeing. Catalysts hold a radical imagination and are committed to unlocking potential and inhabiting the place between now and the future. Leaders who are catalyzing change work in sharp dissonance with how things are and how they should be. Catalysts see glimpses of possibilities and strike the match of potential in the present. Curious and honest, they meld possibilities to give things a go, even when the risks of failure are high.
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