February 2026 Edition
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The Discipline of Clear Leadership
Clarity begins with noticing. For leaders, clarity is not a tactic, it’s a disciplined practice rooted in awareness. It means naming expectations clearly, offering honest feedback promptly, and defining boundaries thoughtfully. Ambiguity may seem easier initially, but over time it quietly drains trust, energy, and alignment.
At Collective Growth, we believe meaningful change starts with inner work. This month, we invite you to notice where clarity is needed within yourself and with your team. When leaders commit to clear, intentional communication, organizations build trust, alignment, and lasting growth.
Meet our Intern, Grace!
We’re excited to welcome Grace Hansen to Collective Growth as our new Social Media & Marketing Intern! Grace is a Strategic Communication student at TCU with experience in content creation, branding, and digital strategy. She is from Minnesota and chose TCU because her dad and her older brother are both alumni. An interesting fact about Grace is that she played ice hockey for 16 years. We can’t wait to see all the things she will help us create this semester!
We're Growing and Expanding Our Consultant Network
Collective Growth is entering a new season of expansion, and we are thoughtfully growing our community of contractors and coaches. The work in front of us is meaningful and complex. Our clients are navigating scale, culture shifts, operational friction, and leadership transitions. We are excited to invite experienced professionals who care about building strong leaders and sustainable organizations to collaborate with us.
We are currently expanding our roster in two key areas:
Senior Consultant, People & Performance
• Partner directly with executive and operational leaders
• Strengthen role clarity, accountability, and practical performance systems
• Translate organizational complexity into clear, sustainable solutions
• Provide hands-on, relational guidance grounded in discernment and structure
Executive Coach, Senior Leader Focus
• Coach senior leaders navigating growth, scale, and complexity
• Align coaching within structured leadership frameworks and broader consulting engagements
• Move leaders beyond insight, toward meaningful behavior change
• Support leaders in strengthening culture, alignment, and results
If you are an experienced contractor who brings both rigor and warmth to your craft and who believes leadership is an inside-out practice, we would love to connect. To learn more or express interest, please reach out to [email protected].
New on the Inner Work Podcast
In this episode, MaryAnn sits down with TD Smyers for a candid conversation about leadership under pressure and the discipline it takes to stay anchored when outcomes are uncertain. TD shares the moments that shaped him most: not the visible wins, but the internal recalibrations that refined his judgment, steadied his confidence, and clarified what he stands for. Together, they explore the tension between performance and presence, the responsibility that comes with influence, and the quiet choices that ultimately define a leader’s legacy. This conversation is a grounded reminder that strength is built long before it’s ever seen.
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