The Value of Collaboration

Cathie Leimbach • March 22, 2022

Study after study shows that collaboration improves productivity and results, yet few organizations are highly collaborative. Collaboration involves multiple people or organizations working together to achieve a common goal. It involves a mutual understanding of and commitment to a desired result and working together with a win/win attitude. 


When people with diverse experiences, knowledge, skills, and resources work together the group makes more informed decisions and adds more value to the organization and/or community. When everyone leverages their strengths, both the individuals and the group achieve more and have a greater sense of satisfaction.


However, collaborating requires us to value each other’s opinions and contributions and to support consensus or majority decisions. We have to avoid the tendency to be in charge, doing things our way. Collaboration requires being interested in other people’s ideas, asking for their suggestions, and listening to their input. It explores multiple options and discusses the pros and cons of each before taking action. Unfortunately, in our society, a competitive mindset tends to overpower collaborative efforts. Fortunately, though, examples of successful collaboration can inspire us to take this approach more often.


Let’s look at two recent successes involving safety services departments in and around the City of Lorain, Ohio.  The media frequently alerts us to discord within police and fire departments, but Lorain’s police department is currently seen as a desirable place to work by many officers throughout Lorain County. Lorain’s Police Chief, Jim McCann, is a collaborative leader. He has an advisory council of several police officers with various positions in the force. When the group meets, he updates them on department initiatives and asks them to provide feedback on what is going well or not so well. He listens to their concerns and queries and explains the rationale behind various decisions. Also, Chief McCann values the leadership role of lieutenants and captains by reminding officers to address day-to-day concerns with them. 


He believes that his strengths are best suited to leading within the department so has delegated community relations to an officer with greater strengths in that area. McCann believes his role as Police Chief includes providing clear expectations, communicating effectively, and equipping and supporting his staff for success. 


Chief McCann also believes in collaborating with neighboring cities. Preparations for and security during President Biden’s recent visit to Lorain involved safety services personnel from Amherst and Vermilion. Chief McCann was quick to give much of the credit for Biden’s safe visit to the strong cooperation among the people from all three cities. They worked so well together that the Secret Service praised them for being one of the best local security teams they have worked with. What a great reputation to have!


Collaboration requires thinking and acting beyond our personal interests with the intent of achieving win/win results. Yes, it takes effort to invite diverse involvement and consider multiple perspectives, but I believe the long-term benefits are well worth the effort. What about you? 

Thanksgiving: Beyond the Turkey and Thank-You Notes

By Cathie Leimbach • November 25, 2025
As leaders, we know Thanksgiving week is prime time for employee appreciation. But here's the thing—a generic "thanks everyone" email hits differently for different people. Dr. Paul White's research on the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace offers a smarter approach. Just like people receive love differently, your team members feel valued in distinct ways: through words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, tangible gifts, or physical touch (think handshakes and high-fives in professional settings). That all-star on your team? She might light up from a handwritten note praising her specific contributions. Your behind-the-scenes problem-solver might feel more appreciated if you help him out by clearing his schedule for an afternoon so he can tackle his backlog. This Thanksgiving, skip the one-size-fits-all approach. Take ten minutes to consider how each team member prefers to be recognized. It's not about grand gestures—it's about matching your gratitude to what actually resonates with each individual. When appreciation lands in someone's preferred language, it doesn't just feel nice. It builds loyalty, boosts morale, and reminds people why they show up every day. That's something worth being thankful for. Curious about what languages are preferred? Click here to learn more!

The Power of Strategic Choice: Making Room for What Matters

By Cathie Leimbach • November 10, 2025
In most organizations, the instinct is to add —more goals, more projects, more meetings. But as Juliet Funt, founder of the Juliet Funt Group, teaches in her Strategic Choice process, real leadership strength lies in deciding what to stop doing . Strategic Choice is the intentional narrowing of priorities—cutting away the clutter so teams can focus on what truly drives results. It’s a disciplined act of letting go: saying no to good ideas so there’s room for the great ones. Funt’s approach challenges leaders to pause, think, and create the mental and operational space their people need to perform at their best. By removing unnecessary tasks and misplaced effort, leaders make room for precision, innovation, and real thinking time. This isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most. When businesses adopt this mindset, they replace overwhelm with clarity and regain control of their time, energy, and outcomes. For small to mid-sized companies, embracing Strategic Choice can transform busyness into focus—and that focus is where sustainable growth begins. Want a quick visual overview? View Strategic Choice: Making Room for What Matters to see how this process helps leaders focus on what truly drives results.