Six Months of The Leader Mindset: Who I Am and What I’m Passionate About

Twenty-six Sundays. Six months of publishing The Leader Mindset. Honestly, that feels like a milestone—especially for someone who can’t stick to a gym routine for more than four weeks.

To those of you who’ve been with me from the beginning, thank you for riding along. And if you’re new here—maybe a LinkedIn nudge or a colleague sent you my way—I’m thrilled you joined.

For this 26th edition, I thought it’d be the right moment to reintroduce myself. Not with a résumé (no one needs another bullet-pointed career summary) but with what I’m obsessed about: leadership, and why I believe it’s the single biggest driver of organizational success.

Leadership Is My Obsession

My passion comes from 25 years of watching organizations rise and fall based on how they address leadership.

It sounds almost too simple, right? Unfortunately, I saw it over and over. Ineffective leaders limping along, dragging teams and results down with them. “Good enough” candidates promoted for stability over competence. Boards and executives crossing their fingers, hoping leaders will somehow figure it out.

Here’s the thing—it rarely works. Only 1 in 5 employees say they trust their leaders, and more than half of executives stumble in their first 18 months. That’s not a rounding error; that’s a crisis.

Yet, leadership is still treated like an afterthought in too many organizations. It’s maddening. Strategies can be copied. Technology can be bought. But a culture shaped by strong leadership? That’s untouchable.

Why I Launched Decatur Street Consulting

I finally reached the point where I couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore. That’s why I started Decatur Street Consulting.

Because promoting the wrong person, or failing to prepare the right one, isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a multi-million-dollar mistake that erodes trust across the organization.

As an industrial-organizational psychologist, I’ve spent decades studying what makes leaders succeed. My mission is simple: stop leaving leadership to chance.

How I’m Trying to Help

So, how am I putting that mission into practice? Three main ways:

Coaching That Transforms
Leadership isn’t a trait you’re born with—it’s a muscle. And like any muscle, it atrophies without work. I coach leaders at every level—new managers, high-potentials, senior executives—to sharpen their impact, build trust, and avoid those common early stumbles.

Sometimes organizations already have great development content; I help amplify it with assessments and coaching so the investment actually pays off.

Succession Planning That Works
Too many companies play checkers with succession planning—filling roles reactively and hoping for the best. I help them play chess instead: mapping out what future roles demand, assessing internal talent, and creating development plans that stick. A strong pipeline isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s risk management.

Accelerating Senior Leadership Teams
Here’s a hard truth: a group of talented executives doesn’t automatically equal a team. I’ve seen senior teams that wouldn’t even talk to each other—cancerous for the culture and paralyzing for results.

Helping senior leaders rebuild trust, break down silos, and align on what matters is some of the most rewarding work I do. When it clicks, the entire organization feels the ripple.

Why This Matters

I wish every organization was run by exceptional leaders. Sadly, many settle for less. They let ineffective leaders coast while untapped potential languishes.

But here’s where I’m hopeful: this is fixable. This is not destiny—it’s a choice, an investment, and a discipline. If your organization is struggling with leaders who need growth, a bench that isn’t ready, or teams stuck in silos, let’s share a coffee and talk about it.

Thanks for being here—whether you’ve been along for all 26 weeks or this is your first stop. I hope you’ll keep dropping by The Leader Mindset.

Andy Noon, PhD

Sent the article? Subscribe for free.

Interested in learning more about our solutions? check them out.

Thanks for reading and look forward to seeing you again next week.

Andy