Waving goodbye to 2021

Hi Guest

Can you believe the end of the year is almost upon us? We have loved every minute of collaborating, partnering and learning with you all.

Be sure to check out our Quarter One, 2022 scheduled events - which are spread between the reflections and aspirations of our team. We share, as always, where we have been and how we have impacted our clients.

So grab yourself a glass of something cold - and enjoy as we wind down and gear up for 2022.

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I have found the need for ramped-up resilience, critical and creative thinking and maintaining work/life balance as we move from work-from-home to semi-back-in-the-office – and most of all, good humour absolutely critical. I feel sure that I’m not alone when I admit – I am feeling depleted. I am so looking forward to special time spent with favourite people – resting, recuperating, and regenerating.

My thoughts go out to those who have been hit by this virus in the worst kind of way – loss. Loss of business, homes etc. Loss of family and friends. I feel for those of you who are unable to travel as you had perhaps planned to in December.

We are a resilient bunch – us SAFFERS – and we will prevail, as we do. I, like the rest of you, hope against hope, that Omicron will pass – quickly – and that we can all get back to the business of finding our new normal.

Looking forward, we have some great workshops planned for the first quarter of 2022 – read on for more information and bookings links!! These workshops fill really fast, so book your space soonest.

Michele Egerton is our Operations Manager – keeping it tidy. Also responsible for Branding and Engagement.

Catalyst Calendar - Q1, 2022

As we hurtle towards the end of another challenging year, and begin our planning for 2022 – we wanted to share with you our exciting Q1 workshop calendar of a mix of new offerings, as well as very popular workshops and learning journeys.

Below we have the workshops based on the best-selling books that Debbie has written - which have proved really popular. Book soon to avoid disappointment.

More info and booking...

From the desk of our founding Catalyst...

Letting go – 10 things

I started a talk to a large corporate audience recently saying: 2021 is the year I had to let go my house, my hair and my husband. It was a risk to share so personally and authentically but something in me is calling louder and louder to STOP with the carefully constructed personas and the filtered communication in order to “fit into” the model of the world that we assume our audiences subscribe to. It is time to share our ideas, experiences and dreams in a way that we can all connect and learn and grow. I received mixed reviews – some finding it powerful and impactful, others finding it uncomfortable in its honesty hitting some unexpected nerves. And that’s ok.

And yes … I did let go a whole lot. I let go ..

For more on Debbie's reflections - her discoveries both personally and in her business and how she has grown - click here

When I look toward 2022, I’m cautiously optimistic. 2021 kicked my butt but also made me (and our nation) stronger, wiser and more adaptable. We’ve seen people stand and pull together in ways we could never have imagined. We’ve stood witness to “end of times” events and scenarios, and yet, here we are – ready to show the stuff we are made of – and choose every day – love over fear, truth over lies, authenticity over what we think people want to hear, trust over doubt and connecting and collaborating for the whole over self-interest and profit only agendas.

We look forward to engaging, experimenting, learning and creating with you in 2022.

Have a restful and rejuvenating festive season. May we all pay attention to what we have rather than what we don’t, what we can create rather than what we can’t and be grateful for this life – exactly as it is!

Debbie

Catalyst Calendar - Q1, 2022 cont.

Below are the details of the Neurochange Solutions workshop and retreat - based on the work of

Dr. Joe Dispenza. We have had such positive feedback on both these offerings - so get on board now!

More info and booking...

More info and booking - CT Retreat

More info and booking - Drakensberg Retreat

Who knew that 2021 would just be the sequel to 2020… with the hope that everything would go back to some semblance of normal and that we would be able to carry on with things the way they used to be, we were in for a big surprise.

Thrust back into endless lockdowns and covid waves, 2021 just hit differently. We’d proven that we could still do everything the same way – only now everything is virtual – but some things were still a learning curve.

Trying to stay in mindset of gratitude and appreciation is a battle when one is burnt out and still pushing to stay innovative and relevant.

There were many positive things that came out of 2021, and one of my favourites has got to be bringing on a new software suite to the Catalyst Team – yaay, more learning to do!

Work life has become slightly more seamless with the programs we’ve got a handle on, and I’m looking forward to seeing what more we can do.

Ndumi Simelane is our Marketing Assistant, she is responsible for our social media management and digital development and helps bring the WOW – virtually and in-person.

Out & About

Catalyst has participated in and presented at the following events:

How we have partnered with some of our clients -

Talent & Leader cultivators

In the chemical manufacturing and automotive industries, we have coached and accelerated the readiness of future-fit leaders and talent at various levels. In addition, with a client in the banking sector, we designed and facilitated two-day face to face learning programmes to bolster their ability to identify and manage their talent and teams in a challenging blended work environment.

Change & Culture navigators

We have partnered with clients in the commercial printing and chemical engineering sectors to design change and culture journeys to enable execution through building mindsets, skills, teams and tools. We have assisted new and existing clients, executives and their teams this year to navigate some really meaty and complex challenges. Story-telling helped break the ice in our team alignment sessions, combined with carefully constructed and facilitated processes to balance engagement with outputs.

Capability & Design enablers

Through our public PowerUp8 workshops, as well as with multiple clients in the banking, mining, oil & gas and FMCG, automotive manufacturing and distribution & logistics sectors we have built future fit capability (mindsets, behaviours, skills) to deliver in an unpredictable world.

We have continued our personal and career empowerment experiences and learnings delivered through virtual workshops and augmented with one-on-one discussions and provided additional support through individual career mentoring sessions, 360 feedback and personal development discussions with line managers for a client in the automotive manufacturing industry.

We have continued to build personal mastery and NeuroChange Skills with teachers in the Western Cape. As part of her passion for making a difference and connecting people with purpose, Debbie has continued contributing to the Western Cape Education Department and Letsema schools project to build personal mastery and change leadership skills with teachers from underprivileged schools and show how the right mindset, tools and support can make a meaningful difference.

Human Capital TRANSFORMERS

Catalyst continues to enable and empower Human Capital teams to design and execute integrated, agile strategies, processes, skills and tools to deliver results through their people. For a client in the distribution and logistics sector, we are nearing the end of a 2-year programme where we have focused on; building HR capability for organisational development and design; developing and implementing the HR architecture to support the business of the future (technical and leadership competencies, assessments, job families and role design); cascading the new business strategy with the performance metrics needed to measure progress and success; rolling out the employee experience journey needed to attract and retain the right talent into the business and implementing the HR operating model and structure to deliver this work sustainably over time.

With another client in the mining sector, we worked with their leadership team to re-imagine their future business and identify the HR strategy, priority processes, capabilities and people they need to help get them there.

Catalyst's GM shares.....

At this time last year, I was writing and reflecting on the 2 years that had gone by, and I had calmly accepted that life had changed forever. Like so many of my clients, associates, friends, and family I was determined to take the personal and professional lessons from 2019 & 2020 and evolve, build, grow, shine. I grabbed the new year with both hands. But as the saying goes, things often happen in threes, and if I though 2019 and 2020 were challenging, 2021 exceeded all my expectations.

On a personal level there were many life-changing moments. While COVID has not walked through our door yet (touch wood), we did have a few uninvited visitors of a different kind. My partner and I found a home big enough to live, work and grow together with our 4 pre-teen children and puppies. While working from home - still very new to the neighbourhood, and getting to know the places, faces and routines – my housekeeper and I were an easy target for home invaders.

For more of Kathy's personal reflections and what we achieved as a business

click here

In the words of the Secretary General of the United Nations “We have been brought to our knees – by a microscopic virus… It has laid bare risks we have ignored for decades…” We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us and there is much work to do. On ourselves. In our country, our business and our homes. For our clients and associates and most especially for our families.

So I will leave you with a quote about this time of year… “year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”

I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that we have faced many challenges and seen many successes this year. And with all the wisdom and experiences of the last year I look once again to the new year with renewed hope and enthusiasm.

Stay safe!

Catalyst Calendar - Q1, 2022 cont.

We share below the details of new offerings that we will be launching in the new year. These are by invitation only, so keep a close eye on your inbox.