Chase Impact with Marci Houseman

Self-Awareness, Integrity, Humility, Courage, and Authenticity aren't just admirable qualities; they are the fundamental building blocks of effective, sustainable leadership.  Leadership that sticks begins with a leader's internal foundation, because a leader's character is the central source of energy that drives all other actions, from design to delivery.

Before leaders can Energize their teams, they must first do the hard work of self-designing. This means anchoring their leadership in a clear sense of purpose, integrity, and courage. Without this internal alignment, any attempt to lead change will lead to confusion, false starts, and ultimately, a lack of trust.

A clear and compelling vision is not a luxury—it is the catalyst for all successful change. In our model, this is the IMPACT quadrant. Leadership that sticks begins with the strategic work of designing a future worth building.

Leaders who can confidently define their personal values and anchor their leadership in a clear vision are the ones who effectively Energize others. Without this well-defined IMPACT, teams are left with confusion and a lack of purpose, leading to false starts.

This is the moment to get under the hood, not just to understand your current systems, but to envision a powerful new ride.

A powerful vision is only as good as its communication. This is the SPOTLIGHT quadrant of our model, where your leadership is seen and felt by others. Leadership that sticks isn't about having a vision; it's about making others see it, own it, and build it with you.

We help leaders master the art of influencing and building consensus—turning a personal vision into a shared purpose. When a leader confidently communicates, they create the necessary buy-in to move forward without false starts or resistance.

This is how you get people to not just go along for the ride, but to enthusiastically help you build the car.

The ENLIGHTEN quadrant is where leaders move from design to delivery, and from self-focus to a focus on others. The core of our "Leadership That Sticks" model is empowering people. Effective leaders don't just delegate; they bring out the genius in those around them so that every team member feels valued, connected to the work, and inspired to contribute.

Without this focus on developing others and building a culture of trust and psychological safety, you risk a lack of the necessary skills for change. This is how you prevent a team from breaking down, and instead, help them perform as a cohesive unit.

This is where you build the team that helps you turn your vision into a reality, much like a skilled mechanic has the knowledge and tools to bring a car restoration to life.

Vision without a plan is just a wish. This is the ENGAGE quadrant, where we move from ideation to implementation. It's where you build the systems that sustain change and create a learning culture—ensuring your vision doesn’t fade.

Leadership that sticks turns a high-level vision into a detailed, actionable roadmap. It’s a process of creating accountability, building feedback loops, and ensuring resources are aligned with your goals. Without this discipline, even the best plans result in false starts and frustration.

This is the final tune-up: putting the plan on the road, testing its performance, and creating a maintenance schedule to ensure your organization keeps running smoothly and powerfully for years to come.

Mabel, my 1937 Chevy Business Coupe, is more than just a car—she is the ultimate symbol of leadership that sticks.

She shows leaders how the intentional design of leadership and learning systems fuels momentum, drives better experiences, and keeps organizations moving—long after they are gone.

Restoring and upgrading something of value to make it transformational, joyful, and responsive is not just about a car. It's the very definition of leadership that builds a lasting legacy.