Find My Catalyst Podcast Mike Simmons

Balancing Growth & Infrastructure. Cyndi Laurin is an expert in organizational growth and development, focusing on helping businesses navigate through different stages of growth. Her insights are crucial for understanding how companies can manage their growth effectively while maintaining a healthy internal structure and culture.
Key Quotes On defining growth: "Growth means different things to different people. For a startup, it's about proving your product. For more advanced clients, it could mean regional expansion." On the risk of rapid growth: "If you keep growing fast in multiple directions, you'll find yourself running around in circles and running your team ragged." On leadership and alignment: "Taking the time to pause and gain clarity around the definition of what it is that we're talking about is really important." In this episode, Cindy and Mike discusses the multifaceted nature of growth in businesses, emphasizing the importance of clear definitions, alignment, and balanced pacing. We highlights common challenges like misaligned goals and the dangers of rapid, unmanaged expansion, offering strategies for sustainable growth and effective leadership.
5 Key Takeaways Defining Growth:
Growth is Multifaceted: Growth can mean revenue increase, market expansion, or customer base growth. Context Matters: Different businesses and stages require different growth strategies. Clarity is Crucial: Ensure everyone in the organization shares the same definition of growth. Common Growth Challenges:
Misaligned Goals: Organizations need to ensure all members have a unified vision. Rapid Expansion Risks: Uncontrolled growth can lead to burnout and inefficiency. Shiny Object Syndrome: Avoid chasing every new opportunity without proper vetting. Leadership's Role:
Align and Direct: Leaders must ensure the team is aligned with the organization’s goals. Manage Resources: Balance between pursuing growth and building capacity. Effective Communication: Clear definitions and goals help in smooth operations. Stages of Growth:
Startup Phase: Focus on proving the product and handling chaos. Standardization: Implementing processes and efficiency after initial chaos. Accelerated Growth: Ready to pour gas on some aspects of the business & build scale. Autonomy and Innovation: Allowing teams to innovate while maintaining structure. Balancing Growth and Stability:
Pacing Growth: Not all parts of an organization grow at the same rate. Infrastructure Investment: Build a robust infrastructure to support growth. Exhale and Inhale: Balance between periods of rapid growth and stabilization. Head to https://findmycatalyst.com/growth to complete your assessment or book time with Cyndi and Mike.

Mike Simmons is a seasoned facilitator and organizational consultant who specializes in enhancing the effectiveness of internal meetings through clarity and alignment. With a focus on practical strategies and actionable insights, the guest helps organizations achieve their goals, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
Key Quotes "Start with a simple question: What is the specific thing we're working on?" "As a leader, your job is to pull that information out of folks to ensure everyone agrees on a clear definition." "In every meeting, there should be knowledge transfer, action steps, and a shift in thinking." In this episode, we explore how to make internal meetings more effective by fostering clarity and alignment. The guest shares strategies for defining objectives, validating alignment, and ensuring actionable outcomes. By simplifying approaches and focusing on key elements, organizations can improve decision-making, problem-solving, and overall effectiveness.
5 Key Takeaways Importance of Clear Objectives
Define the specific objective or problem. Ensure everyone in the room agrees on the definition. Use simple, direct questions to clarify goals. Role of the Facilitator
Facilitate discussions to draw out everyone's input. Address and overcome biases and blind spots. Ensure that quiet voices are heard and vocal ones do not dominate. Effective Meeting Structure
Use models like goal setting, problem-solving, and decision-making frameworks. Document agreed-upon definitions and next steps. Assign clear ownership for follow-up actions. Simplifying the Approach
Focus on one or two key objectives rather than many. Avoid overloading meetings with too many tasks. Emphasize quality over quantity in meeting agendas. Outcome-Oriented Meetings
Ensure each meeting results in clear next steps. Aim for knowledge transfer and actionable insights. Use follow-up questions to confirm understanding and agreement. By implementing these strategies, organizations can enhance their meeting effectiveness, leading to better decision-making, clearer objectives, and more successful outcomes.

Mike dives into the COM-B model of behavior change, which was developed from research conducted in the UK. The discussion centers on understanding how leaders, teams, and organizations can leverage this model to suppport behavior change among their teams.
Key Quotes "The first thing we need to look at when we're trying to determine why someone does the thing that they do is first understand capability." "If you're lacking any of these three, then you're gonna be in a situation where it's gonna be really really difficult to change behavior inside your organization." "Sales is a thinking process. Business is a thinking process. Life is a thinking process. How are you thinking differently about your process?" Summary This episode explores the COM-B model for behavior change, focusing on the elements of Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. The host emphasizes how organizations can assess and enhance these factors to facilitate effective behavior change among employees.
Key Takeaways Understanding Capability
Knowledge and Skill: Assess whether individuals know what to do and have the skills to do it. Training and Coaching: Use these tools to address any gaps in knowledge or skill. Assessment: Regularly evaluate the capability of your team to ensure they are equipped for their tasks. Creating the Right Opportunity
Leadership: Foster a leadership style that supports and encourages desired behaviors. Culture: Develop a culture that aligns with the goals of the organization and supports innovation. Work Environment: Ensure the work environment is structured in a way that provides the opportunity for success. Enhancing Motivation
Incentives: Use rewards and consequences to motivate desired behaviors. Alignment with Values: Ensure that the tasks and goals align with what drives individuals personally and professionally. Observing and Asking: Continuously observe and engage with employees to understand their motivations. Avoiding Assumptions
Data-Driven Decisions: Base your assessments on concrete data rather than assumptions. Clear Communication: Maintain open lines of communication to understand the true barriers to behavior change. Consistent Evaluation: Regularly check and recheck the factors influencing behavior to adjust strategies as needed. Applying the Model in Various Contexts
Workplace: Use the COM-B model to improve processes and employee engagement. Personal Life: The principles can also be applied to personal scenarios, such as family dynamics. Continuous Learning: Encourage a mindset of ongoing learning and adaptation in both professional and personal contexts. This episode offers practical insights into leveraging the COM-B model for effective behavior change, emphasizing the importance of capability, opportunity, and motivation in driving success.

Three Key Quotes "Simplify your go-to-market strategy by compartmentalizing tactics to support various conversions." "Demand, acquisition, retention, and expansion are the pillars of a successful GTM strategy." "By separating customers into strategic, general, and high-turnover categories, you can optimize where to put your time and resources." Mike covers the "Dare to Grow" model for simplifying go-to-market strategies. It emphasizes the importance of segmenting customers and processes to improve efficiency and outcomes. The model includes three main strategies: demand generation, customer acquisition, and retention and expansion, providing a structured approach to drive growth.
Five Key Takeaways 1. Demand Generation One to Many: Focus on traditional marketing efforts such as newsletters and social media to reach a broad audience. One to One: Engage directly with potential customers through personalized conversations and outreach. Channel Partnerships: Leverage existing relationships and referrals to expand your reach. 2. Customer Acquisition Sales Process: Implement a structured sales process with stages like validation, qualification, and client confirmation. Forecasting: Use a consistent sales process for both acquisition and retention to avoid confusion and improve accuracy. Probability of Sale: Understand that the probability of closing a sale increases as the customer moves through each stage of the process. 3. Retention and Expansion Retention through Expansion: Expand relationships with existing customers to retain them longer. Strategic Accounts: Focus on growing impact and relationships with key accounts. Segmentation: Categorize customers into strategic, general, and high-turnover groups to better allocate resources. 4. Simplifying Processes Compartmentalize: Break down your GTM strategy into manageable sections to focus on specific goals. Conversion Points: Address conversion points systematically to improve overall success rates. Data Utilization: Use data from various strategies to refine and improve your approach continuously. 5. Practical Implementation Phoenix Club Example: Use a mix of marketing strategies (one to many, one to one, channel) to attract members. Customer Journey: Ensure that each stage of the customer journey is optimized for the best experience. Feedback Loop: Encourage customer referrals and testimonials to create a positive feedback loop that drives growth.

Key Quotes:
"It was a beautiful thing I couldn't be happier to have been wrong in my predictions." "McDavid's goal... it looks like a dance. He starts on one side of the offensive zone, slides across the front of the goal, and scores on a backhand shot." "One of the cool things about this Stanley Cup final is it will be the longest trip for each team... It's Miami to all the way up to Edmonton." Jacquelyn and Mike review the previous Stanley Cup playoff series and preview the finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers. They discuss key players, thrilling moments, and make predictions while highlighting the unique aspects of this year's finals, including the extensive travel involved.
5 Key Takeaways:
Previous Series Outcomes:
Jaclyn predicted the Panthers would win in six games, and they did. Mike predicted the Oilers would win against Dallas, and they did, but in six games instead of seven. Predictions highlight the unpredictability and excitement of the playoffs. Remarkable Performances:
Connor McDavid's goal was described as a thing of beauty, showcasing his skill and agility. Stuart Skinner's goaltending was crucial for the Oilers, especially in games with low shot counts. Physical and mental endurance of players plays a significant role in playoff success. Finals Matchup:
The finals will feature the Edmonton Oilers against the Florida Panthers. Both teams have strengths: Oilers with depth and goaltending, Panthers with physical play and experience. The extensive travel for both teams adds a unique challenge to the series. Key Players to Watch:
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the Oilers, known for their scoring and playmaking abilities. Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers' goaltender, playing exceptionally well and capable of stealing games. The depth and talent on both teams' rosters will be crucial. Predictions and Hopes:
Mike predicts the Oilers will win, citing their depth and goaltending. Jacquelyn chooses the Panthers, valuing their physical play and experience. Both hope the series goes to seven games for maximum excitement and entertainment. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion of the Stanley Cup finals, and share your thoughts and predictions with Jacquelyn and Mike on LinkedIn!

Three Key Quotes:
"The first thing we want to do to get better at call planning and holding effective meetings is to know who we're communicating with." "Start with their objectives first, not your own biases. Figure out what they are looking to accomplish." "The desired next steps are they like, comment, share with others, and apply what they've learned." This episode covers a simple yet powerful model for effective communication. Our guest explains the importance of understanding your audience's objectives, setting clear goals for your message, and defining actionable next steps. By applying these principles, you can improve both internal and external communications, driving better outcomes.
5 Key Takeaways:
Know Your Audience
Identify who will be in the meeting or watching the video. Understand their roles and how complexity increases with more participants. Tailor your message to the specific needs of your audience. Anticipate Their Objectives
Consider what the audience wants to achieve. Align your communication with their goals to ensure engagement. Address their needs to make your message relevant and impactful. Set Clear Objectives for Yourself
Define what you want to accomplish with your communication. Ensure your objectives are clear, educational, and actionable. Focus on delivering value that meets both your goals and the audience's needs. Define Desired Next Steps
Specify what actions you want the audience to take after the communication. Encourage engagement through likes, comments, and shares. Highlight practical applications of the information shared. Create a Call Plan and Agenda
Use a call plan to prepare for the communication. Develop an agenda to structure the flow of the meeting or presentation. Differentiate between preparation (call plan) and execution (agenda) to streamline the process. By following these strategies, you can simplify your approach to communication, making it more effective and impactful. Whether you are addressing a team or communicating with customers, these principles will help you achieve your objectives and foster better interactions.
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