The Self-Authoring Mind with Susanna Katsman

Susanna Katsman is a leadership development consultant and a coach. She has held a variety of leadership roles in healthcare and higher education settings. She holds an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Susanna is also certified as a Talent Optimization Consultant and a practitioner of The Predictive Index talent optimization platform.

Top 3 Takeaways

1. While having a socialized mind may help you be a great team member, having a self-authoring mind is more critical than ever to be a great leader. 
2. A self-authoring mind can be developed with practice—doing so requires you to take calculated risks and design novel solutions in ambiguous situations.
3. A great way to ensure that you’ve fully absorbed a lesson learned is to use the formula, “I used to think __________, and now I think __________.”

From the Source

“The socialized mind internalizes the behavioral norms and expectations of others, and it looks to others for direction, validation, and approval. People with a socialized mind tend to make excellent team members and do good work.“

“A self-authoring mind no longer looks to others for direction, validation, and approval. It is well aware of what others think and expect, of societal norms, and all of that is subordinated.“

“I would say that the greater the self-authoring capacity, the greater the degree to which one owns the role— not just in the workplace but also in life.”

“Stretch goals can be very important because stretch goals—where falling short of target doesn't impact performance rating or compensation—make risk-taking safer, and risk-taking promotes development of self-authoring capacity.“

“Asking ‘What are you learning?’ makes people stop and reflect, and reflection is a key practice for development of greater mental complexity which goes along with development of self-authoring capacity.”

Connect with Susanna

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannakatsman/

Click here to get Susanna’s free guide “3 Simple Steps to Greater Confidence in Yourself as a Leader!”

What is Lead the People?

Lead The People is your guide to unlocking your true potential as an authentic leader. Hosted by Dr. Matt Poepsel—The Godfather of Talent Optimization—this podcast dives deep into the art and science of what it takes to lead at the next level. With insightful conversations and practical strategies, each episode equips executives, strategic HR pros, and aspiring leaders with the tools it takes to boost performance, inspire teams, and drive meaningful impact. Whether exploring the latest workplace trends or tackling real-world leadership challenges, Lead The People offers an enlightened approach to leadership. Embark on a rewarding journey to become the leader your people deserve—the leader you were meant to be.