Are you ready to move beyond process improvement to become a true driver of transformational change?
In October 2024, I had the honor of being a speaker for the third time at the annual Results Washington Lean Summit 2024.
This virtual event focuses on sharing ideas and inspiration about using Lean thinking in government. Attendees deepen their understanding of Lean and continuous improvement principles and tools in dozens of sessions led by local and national leaders in operational excellence.
At previous Summits I’ve presented on Break The Telling Habit®: Ask More Effective Questions and How to Create a Culture of Continuous Improvement by Closing the GAPS.
Transform Your Influence: 8 Essential Skills for Becoming a Katalyst™
One of the biggest challenges that lean, continuous improvement, operational excellence practitioners, and change leaders like you face is shifting from simply managing processes to becoming a true “Katalyst™”— a change agent who fosters a culture of learning as the key driver of transformation.
Watch this talk to gain insights into eight critical change leadership competencies and actionable strategies that every lean practitioner needs to accelerate the rate of learning as a source of organizational impact and progress.
You’ll discover how to blend your technical problem solving and process improvement skills with your newfound capabilities as a Katalyst™ so that you step into the role of transformational change agent in your organization.
Key learning points:
- How continuous improvement practitioners become transformational change leaders
- 3 common mistakes that keep you into in the “doer” trap (and how to overcome them)
- 8 competencies to boost your influence and credibility with senior leaders, even when you have no positional authority, and create a culture of continuous improvement across your organization
- Why the rate of learning – and progress towards business results — in your organization will increase if you stop telling leaders that “lean” is important (and what do instead)
Watch the Change Katalyst™ Keynote Session
Watch the Change Katalyst™ talk now o gain insights about how to break free of the doer trap and the eight critical Katalyst™ competencies every change leader like you needs to drive accelerated learning, enhance collaboration, and make a lasting impact on your organization to become a true transformational leader. Lower in this post you can find timestamps and other key points to help your learning.
What is a Change Katalyst™?
The term Katalyst™ brings together two words: “catalyst” (an accelerant for change) and the Japanese word “kata” (behavioral routines or patterns), now often associated with the skills for problem-solving and effective coaching.
KATALYST™ is designed to help you go beyond technical skills, equipping you with the foundational competencies necessary for guiding teams through continuous learning and development.
What Makes Leading Change Hard?
When asked what makes leading change difficult, change leaders and team members around the world share consistent barriers: resistance, fear, lack of buy-in, time, leadership, mindset, and more.
(See the word cloud here from what participants in the live presentation shared during the Results Washington Lean Summit 2024).
These are all human challenges, not technical ones.
Effective change leadership about navigating relationships, communicating effectively, and helping people move through the emotional barriers that come with change.
That’s where the Katalyst™ competencies come in. These either influence, relational, and social skills aren’t just about getting processes right; they’re about creating the right environment for learning, trust, and growth—helping people overcome the challenges that keep them stuck.
Three Roles That Keep You Stuck in the Doer Trap
You might find yourself stuck in the “doer” trap if you are finding yourself in one of these three roles:
- The Hero: The hero jumps in to save the day, constantly putting out fires and feeling the rush of saving the day through solving the immediate problem. While this might be rewarding in the moment, it doesn’t lead to lasting impact and keeps you stuck in the cycle of always being the one taking responsibility for problems.
- The Magician: The magician works behind the scenes, applying technical skills to transform results without engaging the team. The magician might solve the problem or improve the process, but by doing it alone without bringing others along inhibits sustainability and prevent the organization from learning and growing.
- The Pair of Hands: The pair of hands does all the work—collecting data, doing analysis, or setting up systems and projects. While some of this is sometimes necessary, especially if the capabilities aren’t already available in the team you are working with, it keeps you from teaching others to take ownership and drive change themselves, ultimately hindering the growth of the team and the sustainability of solutions.
To break free from the doer trap, it’s essential to move beyond these roles and empower others to take on responsibility and learn alongside you.
Change Katalyst Presentation Timestamps:
(8:51) The meaning of a Katalyst™ change leader vs being a catalyst
(12:14) The challenges of leading transformation change
(20:41) How to lead with intention by aligning your actions with your purpose
(31:16) 3 common mistakes that keep you in the “doer” trap
(24:24) Finding a better balance between both technical problem solving skills and the social influence coaching and people oriented skills
(25:37) 8 competencies to master to move from being a change leader to transformational change leader and the 3 most important influence competencies that practitioner need to grow
(26:07) Knowledgeable Business Expert: How to speak the language of business and results to become a better knowledgeable business expert
(27:11) Astute Political Navigator and the value of being a Lifelong Learning Enthusiast committed to continuous improvement
(27:51) Yes-minded Persuader who uses persuasive language, active listening, and empathy to influence others and secure buy-in for new ways of thinking and working
(34:37) The difference between good politics and bad politics
(37:15) How to Break the Telling Habit® through balancing active listening, asking questions, and showing empathy
(40:36) Navigating leadership continuums
(43:34) The PDSA / SAPD continuous improvement cycle and the importance of reflecting and adjusting
(45:01) Develop a habit of daily reflection using a simple daily reflection tool
(46:44) How to take an intention pause to align your actions with your purpose
Questions from the Audience:
(52:22) How do you know you’re asking the right questions?
(52:38) Katie’s response: Use open ended “what” and “how” questions that don’t assume an answer to guide people through a true problem solving process without saying that’s necessarily what you’re doing.
(50:41) How do you navigate resistance from others when you’re stepping into a new role as a coach and Katalyst™ for change, but the people around you aren’t as open to seeing that transformation?
(51:03) Katie’s Response: Demonstrate the shift in your approach through thoughtful questions and by connecting people’s work to broader business outcomes. Intentionally ask open-ended questions that encourage others to think more deeply, problem-solve, and engage.
Ready to become a true Transformational Change KATALYST™?
Download my free KATALYST™ self-assessment for actionable steps to start your journey.
Then, dive deeper by listening to The Chain of Learning podcast episode #9 where I break down all eight essential skills you need to lead impactful change.
Begin empowering your impact and driving meaningful change in your organization today!
