Organizational Change

Organizational change can be complex and overwhelming. Many leaders recognize the urgency but struggle to translate intention into action. Institutions face enrollment shifts, workforce pressures, technology disruption, and rapidly evolving learner expectations. Change now requires momentum, clarity, and a shared vision. When leaders ask how to advance culture without exhausting their teams, I emphasize a simple truth: transformation depends on applying the right force at the right time.

What Is a Catapult?

I recently visited the USS Midway in San Diego, California. As I stood on the massive flight deck of the aircraft carrier, I learned how aircraft catapults operate. They apply concentrated energy in a precise direction to launch an aircraft from zero to flight speed in seconds. The plane does not just advance gradually. It launches with purpose, speed, and confidence.

This experience parallels organizational change. Too often, institutions try to move forward by applying pressure everywhere at once. The pattern may be familiar to you:

Committees form.

Surveys are emailed.

Plans expand.

Messaging spreads thin.

Energy diffuses.

A catapult, however, operates differently. It focuses force, prepares the system, and launches when conditions are right.

Organizational change requires similar discipline. Leaders must determine where to focus energy, who to prepare first, and when to release momentum. Treating professional development as a launch mechanism, rather than a checklist, accelerates culture shifts and reduces resistance.

Diffusion of Innovation Theory

The Diffusion of Innovation theory supports this approach. Every organization includes innovators, early adopters, the early majority, the late majority, and laggards. Change efforts often stall when leaders target everyone simultaneously, exhausting innovators and alienating those not yet ready.

Real change begins with innovators and early adopters (totaling about 16% of the total organizational chart). When leaders design professional learning experiences for this group, they can feel confident that momentum will build naturally. Innovators test ideas. Early adopters model success. Stories spread, and curiosity grows.

At this stage, leaders do not need universal buy-in. They need visible wins and authentic, replicable examples. When early adopters demonstrate success, the early majority takes notice. Resistance decreases. Change feels less like a mandate and more like an opportunity.

Intentional professional development for innovators and early adopters acts as a catalyst. It applies focused energy where it matters most, creating lift and propelling culture forward.

Accelerating Transformation Through Catapult Masterclass

This philosophy guides all Catapult Masterclass designs. Catapult targets those ready to lead change from within, rather than reaching everyone at once. Each masterclass delivers focused insights, practical tools, and immediate application. Staff and educators engage with ideas that challenge assumptions and inspire action.

Catapult Masterclass serves as a launch system for institutions. Innovators and early adopters gain language, strategy, and confidence, returning to their teams energized and equipped. Conversations shift, practices evolve, and curiosity spreads. The organization moves forward without coercion.

Acceleration is essential. Higher education can no longer afford slow adaptation. Learners demand relevance, employers demand skills, and communities demand outcomes. Catapult builds momentum by aligning professional learning with real challenges and solutions. When educators find relevance, they champion change willingly.

This pattern is consistent across institutions. Focused professional development ignites leaders who influence culture and drive outcomes. Change accelerates.

Looking Ahead

No one has capacity for “one more thing.” Thankfully, effective organizational change does not require more effort, but rather a smarter, more innovative use of existing energy. Like an aircraft catapult, institutions must prepare intentionally, focus force strategically, and launch decisively.

As you plan for the year ahead, I encourage deep and honest reflection. Consider the following:

• Where does your institution apply energy today?

• Who stands ready to lead change?

• What ongoing PD systems accelerate your progress?

• Where will you apply the force that moves your organization forward?

The future of education depends on intentional action, not universal agreement. Catapults do not wait for calm seas. They launch with purpose.

Catapult Masterclass

Catapult Masterclass offers staff, educators, and leaders a unique professional development experience. Monthly sessions connect participants with forward-thinking experts shaping the future of teaching, learning, and career readiness. Live Q&As are included with institutional registration to allow your Innovators and Early Adopters to explore ideas in depth, hear real-world examples, and receive guidance tailored to their roles. This bite-sized, interactive approach ensures professional learning is practical, actionable, and directly relevant to today’s educational challenges and opportunities.

Catapult Masterclass also provides flexibility and measurable outcomes. Educators can access on-demand content at their own pace and join a vibrant learning community for discussion and collaboration. Participants may earn up to 15 college credits (undergrad or graduate) by completing three masterclasses per credit, supporting career growth and salary advancement. Registering your team for 2026 invests in high-quality, transformative professional development, strengthens instructional practice, and drives meaningful change across your organization.

Explore the Spring 2026 schedule and register below: Catapult Masterclasses Spring 2026.

2026 Catapult Spring Schedule