Catalyst Quotes

Compiled by Alex Pena ~ ‘Catalyst’: “to spark, to ignite, energize, mobilize; something that accelerates a reaction (DDI)." Thought-provoking & motivational quotes and stories for you to read, reflect on and move forward in making creative and positive changes in your life.

13 Sep 2012

Leaders as Conductors

“High-performing companies recognize that leadership is about more than just steering the business. It’s about nurturing, energizing, and challenging the people who help make it run — and who keep it competitive.” (Boston Consulting Group study, ‘Realizing the Value of People Management’ by Rainer Strack and four co-authors.

“The great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.” (Blaine Lee, The Power Principle)

Have you ever been at a concert and been amazed at how a group of musicians can all be playing different instruments, different times and different keys, but yet, beautiful music comes out of the group? The conductor facilitates the different sections of the orchestra and each musician to ensure that everyone is “playing off the same sheet of music” which then creates beautiful music.

Isn’t that the same with the leaders at your workplace? Isn’t it the job of the leaders to ensure that all the musicians (the associates in the departments) are doing their jobs (playing different instruments and keys) and creating an atmosphere where teamwork is vital among the different departments or teams (sections of the orchestra)?

Beautiful music comes out of a well conducted orchestra and great work comes out of a company with great leaders (conductors).

Ready? And one, two, three, four ….. keep the ‘music’ playing.

Posted in Leadership | Leave a comment

12 Sep 2012

Make Me Feel Important

“Every person you meet has a ‘sign’ around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’ If you can do that, you’ll be a success, not only in business but in life as well.” -Mary Kay Ash

“If you wish others to believe in you, you must first convince them that you believe in them.” – Harvey MacKay

How engaged are your employees? Do they feel important? How does this affect your customers?

Research studies have shown that employee job satisfaction will impact customer service satisfaction. In other words, “happy employees will get you happy customers” and if the employees are not happy, you can imagine how the customers will react.

Successful companies create an environment where the employees feel important and are engaged in their work. If a company does not create a positive environment, the employees will be going through the motions of being at work but not “really being at work.” That reminds me of a book I read recently titled, “I Quit, But Forget to Tell You” by Terri Kabachnick.

Posted in Attitude, Trust | Leave a comment

11 Sep 2012

Leadership – What Inspires You?

“If you want to step up to the next level of leadership, there is an exercise using the idea of inspiration that will help you understand how to tap into your passion or drive more intentionally. … I’ll tell you the origin of the word (inspiration). The Latin word is ‘inspirare.’ It literally means to breathe life into. So the question, ‘What inspires you?’ really means ‘What breathes life into you?’

I want you to think of five people in your life whom you respect. These should be people who know you fairly well. Take your list of five people and ask them this simple question: ‘Do I inspire you?’ Listen to their answers. If they say no, find out why not. If they say yes, find out how.” ~ Ready to Lead? A Story for Leaders and Their Mentors by Alan Price

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11 Sep 2012

Creating the Future

“Once we rid ourselves of traditional thinking, we can get on with creating the future.” (James Bertrand)

“What, exactly, should you do now? You can choose to lead, or not. You can choose to have faith, or not. Are there thousands of reasons why you, of all people, aren’t the right one to lead? Why you don’t have the resources or the authority or the genes or the momentum to lead? Probably. So what?

You still get to make the choice.

But once you choose to lead, you’ll discover that it’s not so difficult.” (Tribes – We Need YOU to Lead US by Seth Godin)

Posted in Challenges | Leave a comment

10 Sep 2012

Tigger or Eeyore?

“A father was late getting to his son’s baseball game. As he sat down behind the players’ bench he asked one of the boys known as a real leader on the team what the score was. “We’re behind 14 to nothing,” he answered with a smile. “Really!” the Dad replied. “I am surprised that you don’t look very discouraged.”

“Discouraged?” the boy replied with a puzzled look on his face. “Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet!”

… Just as pessimism erodes our ability to deal successfully with change, so does optimism enhance it.” (Jim Clemmer, Leaders Inspire Their Teams with Optimism)

“You just have to decide if you’re a Tigger or an Eeyore.” (Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture)

As you go through your day, decide if you want to be an optimist or a pessimist. Don’t forget … others will be affected by what you decide.

Posted in Attitude, Life | Leave a comment

09 Sep 2012

Are You a Catalyst or Transformer?

“Are you waiting …

For someone to lead and inspire you,

For the boss to recognize you,

For clients to thank you,

For co-workers to hail you?

Well, here’s a news flash.

They are all just sitting there too

Waiting for you.”

(print ad for Minolta)

“I am personally convinced that one person can be a change “catalyst”,

a “transformer” in any situation, any organization.

Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf.”

(Stephen R. Covey)

Almost all companies or organizations have managers and leaders but does everyone in the workplace look to them for guidance all the time? Not necessarily. There are many associates in the workplace or an organization that do not have the title, are not exempt or do not have someone reporting to them, but they do lead and manage.

Everyone is waiting for you to make the right move. Be a “catalyst.” Be a “transformer” and make things happen.

Posted in Attitude | Leave a comment

07 Sep 2012

Why “Catalyst Quotes”?

As part of training programs that I’ve done, one of the modules that I used was by DDI (Development Dimensions International) and it focused on the leader as a “catalyst.” Their definition of catalyst is “something that sparks an action.”

By reading the quotes and/or stories that I share with you, I hope to “spark” some action on your part after reading the quote and reflecting on what you are doing or thinking about at the present time. Will the quote or story spark some kind of action on your part to do something different? Hopefully, what you do will bring about some positive action and create a better environment for you and those around you.

We all should understand that each and every action that we do sends out ‘ripple effects’ on everyone around us. Whether it is something we say or our body language, those around us will react and the ripple effects continue. Be aware of what you say and what you do. It is difficult at times but remember, you create your own environment. How you react to things around you will determine what kind of reaction you will have. Will it be positive or negative?

Now, as Peter Drucker said: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” So, “let’s go make a dent in the universe.” (Steve Jobs)

Be a Catalyst!

Posted in Introduction, Life | Leave a comment

07 Sep 2012

Hello World!

This is my first blog on Catalyst Quotes and I am excited about joining all the other bloggers!

It is said that you can tell much about a person by the company he keeps. At times, the companions or company that I keep are the quotations or stories that you’ll see on this blog. They help me ponder and meditate on what is going on in my life or at work and they also help me steer myself in the right direction. At my previous jobs as an HR Manager, I sent out many of the quotes you’ll see to the management teams where I worked at but then word spread and others were asking to be on the mailing list and not just managers.

My intent with this site is to provide you with a variety of motivational and/or thought-provoking quotes or stories that you can use at your work or in your daily life. As Montaigne said, “I quote others only in order the better to express myself.” I “use” others quotes to get a message across. You may get it at times; sometimes, you may need to read it over. Some of the quotes’ authors are famous; some are not. Instead of looking at who said it, reflect on the words being said although the quote is more significant because of who the author is.

I hope these quotes or stories (companions) will tug at your heart, feed your conscience and soothe your soul. I know they have done that for me.

Have a terrific day!