Catalysts of Change: The 1% We Can Be Every Day
How are you being a catalyst of change?
So, in readiness for International Women’s Day, I brought you grand stories of Queens, revolutionaries, and icons in our recent podcast episode. Names that will continue to echo through history - Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo, Julia Ahern. Women who have turned the tides, challenged norms, and left indelible marks. But what if change isn’t just about the big, bold, history-making moves?
What if, instead of waiting for the perfect moment to take the stage, we embraced the quiet, daily nudges that shape the world around us? What if being a catalyst for change wasn’t about toppling empires or painting self-portraits with piercing stares. What about the 1% shifts we can make in our own lives, our families, our teams, and our commitments?
We don’t all need to be Queens or Prime Ministers. We don’t need crowns, manifestos, or museum wings dedicated to us. But we can be our own catalysts. Small ripples. Tiny rebellions. The kind of shifts that, over time, shape something bigger than we ever imagined.
The 1% Shift: A Mischief Ripple Maker’s Approach
Now, if you’ve been around me for a while, you’ll know that I don’t do standing still. I’m here to shake things up, sometimes gently, sometimes with the energy of a pebble lobbed into a very still pond (or, let’s be honest, sometimes a full-on rock drop).
Here’s how I’ve been a catalyst for change, in my own way:
Turning "stuck" into "what if" – Whether in coaching, leadership, or just a good chat over coffee, I live for those moments when someone sees a new possibility they hadn’t before. Helping people shift stories, shapes, and breath patterns they didn’t even realise were keeping them in the same old loops.
Bringing somatic coaching into spaces that need it – Boardrooms, workshops, Instagram posts, anywhere I can sneak in a reminder that our bodies hold more wisdom than we give them credit for, I will.
Shaking up team dynamics – Whether in leadership roles, coaching, or just being a general instigator of good trouble, I love challenging the way teams work together. Encouraging honest conversations, making space for different voices, and sometimes throwing in a wildcard idea that makes everyone stop and think.
Throwing myself in at the deep end – From stepping into new leadership roles to hosting a podcast (which felt like a very public way to see if I had anything worth saying), I’ve learned that the best way to grow is to start before you feel ready.
Getting comfortable with not knowing – The best learning happens when I let myself be a beginner. Whether it’s diving deeper into somatic coaching, exploring new ways of working, GOLF, or embracing my ‘Hagitude’ era, I try to stay open to what I don’t yet know.
Championing the people who don’t always get heard – Whether it’s amplifying women’s voices, lifting up the quiet leaders in a room, or just making sure everyone gets a turn in a team meeting, I believe real change starts when we make space for all those around us without losing sight of ourselves.
Taking risks, even when they don’t pay off – Not every idea works. Not every project lands. But I’d rather try something bold and learn from it than sit safely on the sidelines.
Leaning into joy – Because change doesn’t have to be heavy and serious all the time. Mischief, playfulness, and laughter are just as powerful as strategy and planning.
What’s Your 1%?
So, if you don’t need a crown or a revolution, what do you need? Just a sliver of space to ask:
What’s one tiny thing I could shift today?
Where am I holding my breath on something that matters?
Who needs a nudge, a ripple, or a little well-placed mischief?
What would change if I believed that small shifts do add up?
Because they do. They really do.
So, this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the grand gestures, the iconic women, the history-makers and the 1% shifts that are just as powerful. The conversations that turn into new ideas. The moments of breath before a big decision. The choice to stand a little taller, speak a little clearer, ask one more question.
Change doesn’t always arrive with a fanfare. Sometimes, it’s just a little ripple. But given time, ripples can become much bigger waves! What’s your ripple today?
Bobby Davis is a qualified executive and team coach with extensive experience in organisational development, business change (the people angle), human resources and personal leadership.
Her coaching experience is against a backdrop of 30+ years working in managerial and human resources/OD roles in the British Army, Not for Profits, Professional Services and most recently with a private equity owned Hotel Group.
She has led the People “strand” within large business transformation programmes, creating people strategies, internal coaching schemes and embedding strong performance cultures, as well as supporting at all levels of an organisation to implement effective change.
She is absolutely passionate in her pursuit to support, challenge and deliver sustainable change for individuals, teams and organisations, one person at a time if necessary!
You can catch her for a chat about coaching, using your body better as a leader and/or supporting you in HR/OD here Bobby Davis FCIPD PCC | LinkedIn
And check out her dulcet tones in “More Than A Lumpy Jumper” - Conversations about Leadership, Life and Learning here More Than a Lumpy Jumper | Podcast on Spotify
