The Quadruple Bottom Line

Cathie Leimbach • January 18, 2022

In Ken Blanchard’s book, Leading at a Higher Level, he says that “In high performing organizations, everyone’s energy is focused on … four bottom lines – being the:

  • Employer of choice
  • Provider of choice
  • Investment of choice
  • Corporate citizen of choice.”


The Ken Blanchard Companies’ research reveals that the most important leadership function is “creating a motivating environment for your people”. This is the cornerstone of being the employer of choice. When employees work in a motivating environment, they are engaged at work; they pay attention to the quantity and quality of their work and provide great customer service.

 

When customers rate their satisfaction with customer service at 9 or 10, they will purchase 7 times as much from the company as when customer service is rated at 8 or lower. When customers are raving fans, the company becomes their provider of choice.


The strong revenue from raving fans yields strong profits. Investors want to be shareholders. Lenders offer favorable terms on loans to help the company grow or upgrade its facilities and equipment. The company becomes an investment of choice.


The financial health of the company increases its sustainability. It can operate with the long-term view in mind and it can be generous to the community. Healthy companies have the resources to make choices in favor of long-term environmental health and to support local non-profits and community development. They become a highly respected corporate citizen.  


And respected corporate citizens attract motivated employees, who serve customers well, yielding higher profit, and strengthening the organization’s presence in the community. The cycle continues.


How are your leaders creating a motivating environment to develop and retain engaged, productive employees who are essential to  the organization’s short-term and long-term success? What are you doing to equip your leaders to build a win/win/win/win reality in your organization? 

How Leadership Development Powers Economic Growth

By Cathie Leimbach • July 29, 2025
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a respected professor at Harvard Business School, has spent her career connecting the dots between leadership and economic innovation. Her work shows that developing strong leaders doesn’t just benefit companies—it creates ripple effects that boost entire communities and economies. Effective leaders encourage teamwork, spark innovation, and help their organizations adapt to change. That kind of forward-thinking leadership attracts investment, drives productivity, and supports long-term growth. Kanter believes leadership isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset. She famously said, “Strategic leadership is an economic resource,” reminding us that developing talent is more than an HR initiative—it’s an engine for prosperity. But good leaders aren’t born overnight. Building strong leadership takes training, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous learning. And when businesses and governments make that investment, the rewards show up as better jobs, stronger institutions, and thriving local economies. Kanter’s research is clear: the path to economic progress starts with leadership development. If we want innovation and growth, we need people equipped to lead with vision and impact.  👉 Want to explore this connection further? Check out: How Good Leadership Helps Innovation and Growth

Why Smart Companies Make Leaving Easy

By Cathie Leimbach • July 22, 2025
The Power of Positive Exits