case study · people & culture
leadership as a core competency: c.o.u.r.a.g.e. leadership™ in action.
during a time of leadership transition, grenville mutual chose to strengthen team cohesion and align leadership behaviour with long-term enterprise goals.
the need
leadership was strong individually. they wanted to lead together.
Grenville Mutual Insurance is a mutual insurance provider operating in a collaborative, relatively flat organizational structure. During a period of leadership transition and strategic evolution, the executive team recognized the need to strengthen how they lead together.
Leadership was strong individually, but they wanted to operate more cohesively as a collective, and to understand each other's ways of communicating and working better.
- a more cohesive and accountable executive team
- greater clarity in leadership expectations
- stronger collaboration across departments
- alignment between strategy and leadership behaviour
- a more solution-oriented leadership culture
the approach
an eight-month journey, in three phases.
Rather than a one-time retreat, Grenville committed to an eight-month engagement designed to deepen trust, build shared ownership, and embed leadership as a measurable core competency.
phase01
leadership mapping & strategic alignment
We began with a C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Leadership™ Deep Dive to establish a measurable baseline across seven leadership pillars: Create Meaning, Open Dialogue, Unleash Authenticity, Reinforce Growth, Align Teams, Grow Accountability, and Embody Kindness.
Baseline scoring highlighted specific growth areas, particularly in alignment and accountability. This phase established shared language and a clear roadmap for development.
phase02
leadership capability development
Over four facilitated sessions delivered across eight months, we strengthened executive leadership capacity through practical, applied tools. Each session layered behavioural practice with strategic alignment.
- two-lens thinking (team vs enterprise)
- clear and confident communication
- psychological safety and dialogue
- courageous conversations
- shared accountability standards
- coaching and empowerment
phase03
integration & behavioural commitments
In the final integration session, the executive team re-assessed themselves against the seven pillars and formalized a shared working agreement to sustain momentum. Leadership behaviours were made explicit and measurable.
- clear expectations and follow-through
- open and direct dialogue
- constructive feedback
- shared accountability
- assuming positive intent
- leading with care and compassion
the power of the pause — before reacting, before stepping in to solve, and before saving the day.
Karen Bramhill Lead Strategist · People & Culture
biggest growth
+162.5%
grow accountability
From the lowest baseline score at the start of the engagement to the largest measurable shift by month eight. Accountability moved from assumed to explicit across the executive team.
+88.9%
Align Teams
+57.4%
Create Meaning
+50%
Reinforce Growth
100%
Positive Value Signal
4.6 / 5
Top Workshop Score
4.4 / 5
Overall Relevance
where the biggest shifts happened.
grow accountability
+162.5%align teams
+88.9%create meaning
+57.4%reinforce growth
+50%The C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Leadership™ journey provided practical tools we could immediately apply. Sessions like Courageous Conversations and Align Execution strengthened how we work through challenges together and clarified expectations across the team.
Grenville Mutual Insurance Executive Team
from the strategist
a note from karen.
Karen Bramhill
Lead Strategist, People & Culture
I'm most proud of the leadership team's commitment to showing up fully. They leaned into vulnerability and had the hard conversations, choosing humility and curiosity even when it was uncomfortable to surface what hadn't been said.
We spoke often about the power of the pause: before reacting, before stepping in to solve, and before saving the day. Over time, that pause became a leadership practice — creating more thoughtful responses, stronger accountability, and deeper trust.
They are a strong team, and I'm confident this experience strengthened them not only as leaders, but as individuals. The ripple effect will be felt in their teams and beyond.