Have you ever known colleagues who the minute they stepped into the conference room, on stage, or onto the playing field, elevated the performance of everyone around them? Someone whose impact within the team could be seen in nearly everything that was said and done?
These individuals are catalysts - they spark excellence in the behavior and the performance of the entire team.
The Catalyst Effect identifies the behaviors and skills needed to lead from wherever you are, regardless of your role or title. It describes powerful leadership and teamwork principles-12 clearly defined competencies, based on field research with professionals in business, sports, the arts, and non-profit organizations-that will elevate the performance of individuals, teams, and your entire organization.
This essential guide will show you how to learn and practice these catalytic competencies and help your group and organization achieve greater success, improve team dynamics, and help teammates grow in stature while magnifying their value.
Table of Contents:
Foreword; Brad Stevens;
Preface;
Introduction;
Cornerstone I: Building Credibility;
Chapter 1. Acts With Integrity and Inspires Trust;
Chapter 2. Communicates Clearly;
Chapter 3. Invigorates with Optimism;
Cornerstone II: Creating Cohesion;
Chapter 4. Connects Emotionally;
Chapter 5. Develops Camaraderie;
Chapter 6. Puts the Team’s Goals Before Personal Interests;
Cornerstone III: Generating Momentum;
Chapter 7. Energizes Others to Execute With the Mission in Mind;
Chapter 8. Upgrades and Rejuvenates Skills and Knowledge;
Chapter 9. Leads and Follows;
Cornerstone IV: Amplifying Impact;
Chapter 10. Pursues Excellence;
Chapter 11. Mentors and Coaches Others to Excel
Chapter 12. Proposes Imaginative Solutions;
Conclusion, What's Next? Assessing and Developing Catalytic Competencies
About the Author :
Jerry Toomer serves as an Executive Partner and Adjunct Professor in the Lacy School of Business at Butler University. With over three decades of applied experience as a Human Resource executive, he brings unique insights into leadership and organization effectiveness.
Craig Caldwell is the Associate Dean of Graduate & Professional Programs in the Lacy School of Business at Butler University. Craig has been published in Business and Society, Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, The Monitor, Business and Society Review, Management Accounting Quarterly, and Journal of Corporate Citizenship.
Steve Weitzenkorn is an organizational adviser and strategy consultant, working closely with multinational corporations, local companies, educational institutions, and not-for-profits to elevate their success. He has developed innovative and award-winning training programs for American and international companies.
Chelsea Clark is the Founder and President of Chelsea Clark Consulting, LLC, a relationship research firm located in Carmel, IN. Her business assists corporate, non-profit, and academic leaders in achieving their research-related objectives and solving complex social scientific questions.
Review :
"This wonderful new book, The Catalyst Effect, cuts straight to the chase on what it takes to be a true leader through collective trust and empowerment. When one chooses to give up their own personal victory for the progression of the team, the results are powerful and real. This book shows you how. A superbly inspiring read!"
"I truly love the ideas in the book. Thoroughly researched and full of practical suggestions, The Catalyst Effect lights the path for every person in every organization to see themselves as leaders. It shows us that everyone is a leader and can get better at leading, if they recognize that truth."
"The Catalyst Effect is at once inspirational and pragmatic. The authors offer a fresh perspective of what teamwork and leadership can look like in flatter organizations. Through the rare combination of a strong narrative and solid research, the authors deliver the insights and tools needed to lead, regardless of his or her formal title. Each of us can learn something from this book. I did."
"The best leaders and colleagues have something in common: they make everyone around them better. This is a hands-on playbook for building that capability in your team."
"The Catalyst Effect is fun, engaging, insightful, theoretically sound, highly useful, and my new favorite leadership book! I can't wait to use it in my leadership class next semester. When it comes to books for people who aspire to high levels of impact in an organization, but don't have a fancy title, The Catalyst Effect fills a void. Whether used as a reading in a university course, material to develop young professionals, or as a guide to show senior leaders how to identify hidden catalysts in their organization, the lessons in this book will prove incredibly valuable."
"When Yo-Yo Ma brought together master musicians from different cultures to form The Silk Road Ensemble, he sought to instill a unique sound and a cohesive spirit. I have had the privilege of being part of the Ensemble and experiencing performances that achieve heights beyond our dreams.
The Catalyst Effect engagingly describes the leadership and teamwork principles that bring his vision to life. Through Yo-Yo's natural style, he embodies the ideas presented in this book.The Catalyst Effect shows how these skills and behaviors can be applied in all types of organizations to produce superb results."
"With society seeming more fragmented and divided, the responsibility of leaders to bring people together to accomplish great things can be more difficult than ever before. The Catalyst Effect is a practical primer to help all leaders inspire teamwork and collaboration to boost team performance and achieve great results."
"The Catalyst Effect competencies fit hand-in-glove with Servant Leadership principles. The model invites readers, whether they are in informal or formal leadership roles, to identify and develop the key skills that will increase their effectiveness and impact."
"Some leaders are viewed as solitary gems. They outshine their peers with an intense luminosity that makes them stand apart. That view, however, may be erroneous or at least incomplete, according to Jerry Toomer, Craig Caldwell, Steve Weitzenkorn and Chelsea Clark, authors of The Catalyst Effect. The writers argue that some of the most impactful leaders succeed by elevating the performance of their team, by making not just the solitary gem but the entire necklace dazzle. The Catalyst Effect highlights a dozen competencies that anyone can cultivate to become better at catalyzing leadership and teamwork. Whether you are a leader or a team-member, you will learn a lot from this book."
"The Catalyst Effect has given me a number of useful tools and new approaches in leading my organization and civic partnerships and in supporting my teammates as they lead. I also believe it will be a big help to my college-student son as he prepares to find his way in his career. The book's framework makes it very easy to review the most important advice and relevant wisdom in each leadership situation and for each individual. I highly recommend it."
"The Catalyst Effect illuminates the elements of leadership that are essential in any successful ensemble endeavor – in business, sports and certainly in the arts. Outstanding orchestra performances require each individual to focus on the team goal, understand when to lead and when to follow and uphold a standard of excellence that inspires their colleagues and their audience. This book provides incredible insight into the way these key concepts apply across sectors and what they look like in practice."
"What is important is not a formal title, but how you impact your teams and your organization as a catalyst from wherever you are. The authors skillfully blend real life examples from business, sports and not for profit organizations with sound research in a highly readable manner. You will learn the 'why, what and how' of being a catalytic leader. This is a highly valuable book for professionals and leaders at all levels who work in teams across different settings and cultures!"
"Building successful groups rarely happens by chance. It takes wisdom. This book offers such wisdom by focusing on specific skills that team members can develop to enhance each other's success, thereby enhancing overall team performance. Catalytic leadership makes the whole much more than the sum of its parts."
"At a time when the social contract between employer and employee is changing, The Catalyst Effect provides a valuable perspective on how employee engagement can thrive. Investing in everyone's ability to lead at the appropriate time in team settings can foster a vibrant culture and drive impact. The book is filled with ideas for application and was a pleasure to read."
"The authors have brilliantly uncovered a powerful component of team structure, appropriately coined it "catalyst," and provided a great guide to apply the concept. The catalyst concept coupled with strong leadership cannot deliver anything but powerful results. Effectively and clearly written with colorful and real life examples to supplement the concept. This is a must read for those interested in leading from wherever they are. I will recommend this book to all I know, not just in the business world."
"Some people simply help their colleagues perform better--often in ways that have been difficult to measure and cultivate in the past. This book is a giant step toward identifying and proliferating the catalytic capabilities that can make every organization more successful."
