Why Your Company's Success Depends on This One Thing (Hint: It's Not What You Think)

Cathie Leimbach • August 19, 2025

What separates thriving companies from struggling ones? 🤔


Professor Lynda Gratton from London Business School spent decades studying this exact question. Her findings will change how you think about leadership.


Here's what she discovered:



Organizations that invest in developing collaborative leaders consistently outperform their competitors. Not by a little—by a lot.


Through her groundbreaking study of 21 global companies and 200+ executives, Gratton identified the three game-changing elements:

✅ Cooperative culture -  Moving from "me vs. you" to "we together"

✅ Rich networks -  Breaking down silos so ideas flow freely
✅ Shared purpose -  Giving work meaning beyond the paycheck


The results speak for themselves:  → Better innovation → Higher employee engagement
→ Stronger financial performance


Companies that train managers to be collaborative leaders (not just bosses) create environments where teams actually want to work together.


My takeaway?

Leadership development isn't a "nice to have"—it's your competitive advantage.


When leaders learn to cooperate and inspire others, entire organizations transform.


What's your experience with collaborative leadership? Have you seen this play out in your organization?

 

Want to dive deeper?

View Three Pillars of Success which breaks down how to produce measurable results in innovation, efficiency, and engagement.

Looking Ahead to a Fruitful 2026

By Cathie Leimbach • December 30, 2025
As the New Year approaches, it’s a natural time to look forward and ask what you want the next chapter to bring. One simple way to reflect to ask yourself three questions to create a stronger year ahead, what should you: Stop?, Continue?, and Start? Stop focusing energy on habits, meetings, or expectations that no longer serve you or your team. This might mean letting go of outdated processes, unnecessary urgency, or ways of working that drain momentum without adding value. Continue the practices that helped you gain traction this year. Think about what worked—perhaps clear communication, strong collaboration, consistent follow-through, or time spent developing people. These are the behaviors worth protecting and reinforcing. Start being intentional about what will move you forward in 2026. This could include setting clearer priorities, investing in leadership development, building healthier team rhythms, or creating space for innovation and growth. Taking time to reflect now helps you enter the New Year with purpose rather than pressure. Small, thoughtful shifts can create meaningful impact over time. Ready to turn reflection into action?  👉 View our Stop • Continue • Start Worksheet for a simple, practical way to reset priorities, build on what’s working, and step into 2026 with clarity and momentum.

Take a Moment for Joy

By Cathie Leimbach • December 23, 2025
As the year comes to a close, it’s worth pausing to ask a simple question: What brought you joy this year at work and in life? Joy doesn’t always arrive in big, headline moments. Often, it shows up quietly—in meaningful conversations, shared laughter, progress made, lessons learned, or the steady presence of people who support us. Sometimes joy is found in growth, sometimes in rest, and sometimes in simply getting through a challenging season with resilience and grace. Take a few minutes to reflect. What moments made you smile? When did you feel most connected? For what are you grateful? This reflection isn’t about ignoring the hard parts of the year. It’s about honoring the bright spots that sustained you through them. Recognizing joy helps us close the year with perspective and open the next one with hope. As the holidays approach, give yourself permission to slow down, savor meaningful moments, and share joy with others—through kindness, gratitude, and presence.  May this season be filled with moments that lift your spirit, and may you carry that joy with you into the year ahead. 👉 Take a moment to pause this season—view the Reflecting on Joy one-pager and reflect on what brought meaning to your work and life this year. Wishing you a truly joy-filled Christmas season .