Discover business acumen: core components, traits of leaders, development steps & metrics to boost decision-making and scale success.
Keeping up with change isn’t enough anymore. If you want to stay competitive, your business needs to lead it.
That means strong leadership. Not just at the top, but across every level of your company. The businesses that win are the ones that build a culture of adaptability, emotional intelligence, and innovation.
In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, Jennifer Bagley sits down with Mary Bel McGrath and Eric McGrath from Driven Leadership. They break down exactly how leadership shapes performance and what it takes to build a team that thrives, even when everything around them is shifting.
Too many leaders focus on performance without investing in people. If your team doesn’t feel safe, supported, or challenged, they won’t step up. And without strong leadership behaviors in place, even the best strategy will fail.
1. How Experiential Training Unlocks Real Leadership Skills
Leadership isn’t built in a classroom. Hands-on, real-world training is what helps people grow, take ownership, and lead with impact.
2. Why Psychological Safety Drives Innovation
Teams that feel safe speak up, take smart risks, and solve problems faster. Creating that environment starts with the leadership team.
3. Adaptability and Emotional Intelligence Are Non-Negotiable
The best leaders know how to read the room, respond with empathy, and stay flexible. That’s how you build a team that can pivot without panic.
4. Simple Strategies for Personal and Team Growth
The episode offers proven tactics you can apply right away to improve communication, accountability, and trust across your organization.
5. How to Future-Proof Your Business Through Culture
You can have the latest tech, but if your team isn’t aligned or engaged, you’ll lose your edge. Strong culture keeps you competitive no matter what changes around you.

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