It was a spring morning in Boulder when he sat down across from me, his coffee cooling in his hands. The sky was clear, but his expression wasn’t. He was the kind of leader others respected—emotionally intelligent, grounded, and present.

He didn’t push or hover. His leadership was built on trust, not control. And I could see it right away.

That’s part of what I do—hold steady, name what’s hard to name, and create space for truth to land. He looked spent. Not from overwork, but from holding something heavier: the quiet frustration of trying to lead a team that no longer seemed connected.

He had been trying to motivate his team, but nothing seemed to stick. He hadn’t named it yet, but it was clear—he was carrying the emotional burden of caring more than everyone else.

“They just don’t seem to care anymore,” he said. “It feels like I’m pulling all of it uphill by myself.”

He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t blaming. He was simply telling the truth. And what I saw—clearly—was a leader stuck in reaction. Not because he didn’t care. But because he cared so much, and nothing was moving.

So I asked him, What are they showing up for?

“A paycheck?” Then after a moment, “Maybe some sense of security?” Even as he said it, he knew that wasn’t enough. Not for this team. Not anymore.

Somewhere along the line, the story had gone missing. The deeper “why” had been buried beneath deadlines and deliverables. The vision wasn’t being spoken anymore—not because it didn’t matter, but because it hadn’t been made present.

We went back. Not to strategy, but to purpose. He remembered why he started this work: to make sustainable architecture both accessible and aspirational. Homes that honored the land and the people living on it. Beautiful, enduring design with a conscience.

The next Monday, he shared that story with his team. Not as a performance, not to motivate—but to reconnect. He spoke about a client who walked through their finished home in tears, overwhelmed by the way it reflected their values.

He ended with: “This is what we’re building. This is what you’re part of.”

There was a long pause. Then the youngest person on the team, early twenties, usually quiet, said: “I didn’t know that story. I want more of that.”

That’s when things began to shift. Not overnight. But the current started to change direction.

Especially with the younger generation, the job is never just the job. Gen Z and beyond need to know that what they do matters—that their work connects to something real. When purpose is present, they engage differently. They care more. They stay longer. They contribute with intention, not just obligation.

And it doesn’t take a big speech or a culture overhaul. It takes clarity. Intention. A willingness to stop reacting and start creating again.

So this Monday, don’t ask how to get more out of your team.

Ask yourself—what are you giving them to believe in?

Wake. Lead.Win.

Sound familiar? Let’s Talk

See how Boulder is blooming this season—and consider what wants to bloom in your leadership too.

Kate Galt Primal Leadership Business Coaching

Kate Galt coaches and challenges leaders at all levels— from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives— to sharpen their vision, articulate key messages so they connect and inspire, and make decisive, strategic moves that drive real business growth. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she works with individuals and teams to strengthen leadership, improve team dynamics, and achieve measurable results.

Her coaching is rooted in Primal Leadership—because the strongest leaders move with instinct, command presence without force, and create unshakable trust through raw, real connection.

Like any driven person, Kate is always figuring out how to do it all—running a business, raising two kids with her equally involved husband, and still making time for the adventure that brought her to Colorado in 1998. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or chasing an ultimate frisbee, she knows the best leadership isn’t just learned—it’s lived.

The bottom line? Kate makes good leaders great.

Curious about what makes her coaching style so impactful? Book a call and experience it for yourself at CoachTheLeaders.com.