Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Leytem.
Michael, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At my core, I have always wanted to help people. It is the very reason that I studied psychology in college. I am fascinated by the human mind and the decisions people (especially leaders) make and why. My roots are from the Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio) where I earned my degrees and started my career as a leadership consultant and coach. After gaining experience there, my wife and I decided to sell 80% of our belongings and move to San Diego in 2016. It was during this time that I started working for KPMG as a consultant in their “People & Change” practice focused on helping organizations and their leaders more effectively implement and sustain their people strategies. After expanding my network and gaining new insights, I decided to take a leap of faith in July of 2019 and form my own LLC and author the book titled Catching Leadership.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road is never as smooth as you think it’s going to be, but that’s what makes the ride worthwhile.
Throughout my career, there have been plenty of ups and downs, but all of them provided me with great lessons that I use in my work today.
Back in 2009, during the height of the economic recession, the only job I could land was a pizza delivery driver making $5.15 an hour plus tips as a college graduate with honors and distinction. Although it was humbling, it motivated me to pursue my Masters in Industrial-Organizational Psychology the year after.
In 2011, I had to move away from my fiancée for an entire summer to be an intern in Ohio to help me secure my first consulting job upon graduating from grad school. That internship was one of the best things that could have happened to me because it opened the door for me to explore the beautiful world of leadership development.
Throughout the years, it wasn’t always easy meeting new people from new communities, but over time, you get better at it. Once you accept that you are in control of your own life, you start building upon the risks and lessons you’ve learned along the way. It takes time to embrace patience.
In the end, I always knew where I wanted to go with my career so the struggles along the way just made me stronger.
Catching Leadership – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am the Founder and CEO of Michael Leytem, LLC which provides clients with talent management consulting, leadership development coaching, and corporate mindfulness strategies. To put it simply, I am in the “People Business” where I help individuals and organizations think strategically about how to leverage and retain their greatest assets, their talent.
Recently, I have been working hard to develop and launch the C.A.T.C.H. & Release® Model of Leadership which is outlined in my upcoming book Catching Leadership. The model is a fresh take on leadership development that combines elements of leadership, psychology, and mindfulness using fishing metaphors to tie everything together in an artistic way. The best of both new and old leadership constructs are included in the model to help readers explore leadership in a brand new way.
If you are not a fishing fanatic, fear not, this is a leadership book first and foremost. The fishing metaphors just help drive home the leadership principles.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success can only be measured by using one’s own measuring stick. It’s not defined through comparison, but rather through personal growth.
When it comes to leadership, I define success as a balance between the results you achieve, the individuals you develop, and the way you continuously develop yourself. It’s important to establish ongoing metrics to measure your success. I encourage my clients to look beyond dollar amounts and focus on the overarching impact they wish to achieve (e.g. the number of lives they want to impact, the culture they want to create, the value they seek to provide, etc.). Once their “why” is established, the fun part begins by creating unique metrics to measure their personal growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.catchingleadership.com
- Email: michael@catchingleadership.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catchingleadership/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/308839696189742/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-leytem-a8971433/
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