Increase Urgency within Your Cultures With a 3-Part Formula with Gene Hammett, CEO Coach

In this episode, we're diving into something every organization talks about but few truly master urgency. I share what I've learned coaching CEOs about why urgency matters so much and how clarity, energy, and ownership all work together to create real momentum. We'll talk about setting clear goals, getting people emotionally connected to the work, and helping teams feel genuinely invested in the outcomes. You'll also get a chance to gauge your own urgency score and pick up a few simple ways to boost it. And along the way, I'll touch on how coaching can help leaders and teams move faster, stay focused, and keep growing.

Episode Highlights & Time Stamps

0:07 Introduction to Urgency
2:21 Creating Clarity for Urgency
5:51 Energizing Your Team
8:05 Fostering Ownership and Accountability
10:11 The Urgency Formula for Growth

Why Urgency Matters More Than Ever

In this episode, I dig into the idea of urgency—why it's such a powerful driver of growth and momentum, and why so many organizations quietly lose it over time. Drawing from my work as a CEO coach, I talk about a common issue I see: urgency fading at the executive level and slowly rippling through the entire company. I also introduce the three interconnected elements that shape a culture of urgency—clarity, energy, and ownership—and how they set the tone for everything that follows.

The Three Ingredients of a High-Urgency Culture

Urgency isn't just about moving fast—it's about creating an environment where people feel motivated and empowered to act. I break down the three elements that fuel this:

• Clarity: Without clear priorities, standards, and success metrics, teams struggle to know where to focus. I talk about the importance of transparent conversations around goals, milestones, and expectations so everyone understands the path forward.
• Energy: This isn't a buzzword; it's the emotional charge that moves teams into action. When employees feel connected to their work and understand its purpose, engagement skyrockets. I share ways organizations can build energy—like communicating meaning and celebrating small wins to keep momentum alive.
• Ownership: Beyond responsibility, ownership is about personal investment and proactive accountability. I discuss how leaders can create a culture where team members genuinely feel the work belongs to them—and why that shift changes everything.

Assessing Your Urgency and Raising It

I challenge listeners to calculate their own urgency score using a simple formula built around clarity, energy, and ownership. This diagnostic helps leaders pinpoint where urgency is thriving and where it needs immediate attention. From there, I offer guidance on turning those insights into real, actionable improvements. I wrap up by inviting leaders who want deeper support to consider coaching as a tool for unlocking their team's full potential—because building urgency isn't a one-time task; it's an ongoing journey.

Key Takeaways

• Urgency drives growth and momentum—but it often weakens at the top and spreads throughout the organization.
• Clarity is the foundation of urgency; teams need clear priorities, expectations, and definitions of success.
• Energy fuels action by connecting people emotionally to their work and reinforcing purpose through communication and small wins.
• Ownership creates accountability, encouraging team members to take proactive responsibility rather than simply completing tasks.
• The three elements—clarity, energy, and ownership—work together to form a high-urgency culture.
• Leaders can assess their team's urgency using a simple score based on these three components.
• Improving urgency is an ongoing process, and coaching can accelerate progress and unlock organizational potential.

Ideal For:
Founders, CEOs, executives, managers, and anyone committed to elevating their leadership capacity.

Resources & Next Steps

Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level?
Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com
to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance.

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