Catherine Stagg-Macey
Wing woman for senior leaders sharpening their edge and building legacy-worthy teams. đź’Ś Join 2,900+ leaders who get my no-nonsense, actionable leadership tips every Tuesday.
the day everything fell apart (and what saved me)
Hi Reader, London, 2008. Around the time the Lehman Brothers employees are photographed streaming out of Seventh Avenue in New York City with cardboard boxes. The financial world is imploding. My consulting team has just lost 40% of our clients. Overnight. Photo of me from 2008 - looking polished but you can see the tension! That knot in my stomach was about survival. Would we end up like Lehman brothers? Would I also be looking for a job? Three names in my phone saved me. Three conversations...
the hidden cost of leadership loneliness
Hi Reader, Last month, G sat across from me in a meeting room, overlooking the City. “Everyone’s looking to me - the board wants growth plans, my team needs direction, investors demand results." "And here’s what terrifies me… I’m not sure I have the answers anymore.” His voice dropped. “And I can’t tell anyone that.” 61% of senior leaders report feeling profoundly alone in their role. It’s the leadership paradox nobody talks about: more responsibility → fewer people to confide in bigger...
what really motivates your team
Hi , Two leadership moments collided in my mind this week: Watching Yuval Harari and Sam Harris dissect the future of leadership [see their fascinating conversation here] A question from a coaching client: “my team’s burnt out, budget’s frozen - now what?” 65% of UK leaders would take a pay cut for a better role. Let that sink in. While most leaders reach for the wallet, high-performing team members want something else entirely: ✅ purpose: work that matters beyond the pay cheque ✅ autonomy:...
the leadership tools
Hi Reader, I'm back from a wild ride of the TED AI conference in Vienna. More about that when I have a chance to digest all the insight. Catherine trying to look cool in high-heels that she hasn't worn since 2019! And in the meantime, let's talk tools. Even if you’ve got a top-notch tech stack from your IT department, there’s always room to level up your productivity, decision-making, and well-being as a leader. Here are a few tools every exec should consider adding to their lineup: ⏳ ChatGPT...
how Larry the cat survived 6 prime ministers (and you can too)
Hi Reader, How’s your week going? I’m getting ready for the TED conference on AI in Vienna, and I’m excited to explore what senior leaders need to know about the AI revolution. But before I head off, did you hear about the new cat at Downing Street? The cute newcomer and the Downing street incumbent The UK Prime Minister just got a new cat named Prince. But what about handsome Larry—Downing Street’s veteran, who’s survived six Prime Ministers? When a new leader steps in, they often bring...
đź“Ťcan you click one?
Keeping it short today Reader, I want to help you elevate your leadership skills and team dynamics through executive coaching. And any leader who truly cares about their team knows it’s better to understand what they need than to guess at what they might want. So this is me asking. In a one-question-only survey. It should take you less than a minute to fill out. Thanks Reader. You make coaching a lot more fun. Catherine P.S. One minute to tell me about your leadership challenges.
the ONE meeting you should never cancel
Hey Reader, One of the common complaints I hear about bosses is their lack of availability. So my tip for you this week…. Don’t cancel your 1:1 meetings with your team. YOU hold the power in your role as boss (even if you don’t feel it!) If you ask your team member if it’s okay to reschedule a 1:1, they will likely say yes because they don’t think they have a choice. I know you feel under pressure a lot of the time, but the 1:1’s are not the place to find space. If you’re a coachey-leader,...
need clarity? try this simple daily habit
Hi Reader, I’m packing my bags for 2 weeks in Denmark. Perhaps you are packing bags too, or rumbling with the kids already on school holidays. So I’m going to keep it short – and dropping in a leadership tip this week. Block out 30 minutes for reflection at the end of each day. A grumpy looking CSM taking reflection seriously! If like me, you spend a day in meetings and a whirlwind of decision making, you need time to digest the day. Reflection time is that integration of the day’s events,...
what if your project fails?
How are you Reader, Really... I’d love to know. Me? I’m in a season of unexpected active rest. I’ve been reading a lot of novels, pottering around the garden and making friends with the Robin. And feeling a little frustrated. What is stinging a little is the thing that hasn’t worked out so well. Two things that consume a lot of my time – the podcast, and social media– are not paying back the effort I am putting in. Whilst I don’t need fame and fortune, I realise I want something for the...
can you be yourself AND succeed at work?
Hey Reader, I spent last Tuesday cleaning out the garden shed in the company of a Robin who ate up all the insects that were evicted from the dark recesses. One of those really satisfying home jobs that I put off for years and then wonder why I delay it. But let’s talk being authentic …. a hot-trend in corporate culture speak. Easy if everyone in the office looks and sounds like you. What if you had to CHOOSE between being the REAL you and success in your corporate career? What if you had to...
Wing woman for senior leaders sharpening their edge and building legacy-worthy teams. đź’Ś Join 2,900+ leaders who get my no-nonsense, actionable leadership tips every Tuesday.