Gratitude in leadership: 3 traits of resilient teams

As we enter the season of giving, I’m reminded that gratitude remains one of the most underrated yet powerful tools in a leader’s toolkit. Thanksgiving naturally encourages reflection, but for those of us guiding teams and organizations, it becomes more than a momentary pause — it becomes an invitation to reconnect with purpose.

In the rush of quarterly goals, client meetings, deadlines, and constant change, it’s easy for leaders to overlook the everyday wins that move us forward. This season nudges us to slow down, look beyond the metrics, and recognize the people, values, and experiences that shape our success. At caa, where our mission centers on thoughtful business reporting and meaningful engagement with local leadership across key markets, this reflection feels especially timely.

When I look back on our journey, the challenges we’ve faced and the resilience we’ve built, there are three qualities I’m most grateful for in my team and in our culture: adaptability, curiosity, and dedication. These traits have not only enabled us to grow as a company but have strengthened the way we deliver insights to the communities we serve.

Adaptability

Any company approaching its first decade knows that the early years can feel like riding a roller coaster. For us, that roller coaster included a global pandemic that reshaped how business is done, the rapid emergence of AI transforming how information is gathered and shared, and the usual growing pains of building something new in a fast-moving world. 

Yet, whenever I speak with fellow CEOs and business leaders across the cities we cover, I’m reminded that our version of the ride has been far gentler than many. The difference — the stabilizing force — has been our team’s adaptability.

Adaptability is more than reaction. It’s a mindset. It is the willingness to welcome new ideas without fear, to pivot when the market demands it, to evolve alongside technology rather than resist it. This flexibility allows us to stay competitive in the economic-development and business-intelligence space. It empowers us to innovate how we conduct interviews, analyze data, and present trends to our global readership. I’m profoundly grateful that adaptability is baked into our company’s DNA. It keeps us resilient, creative, and open to the next opportunity.

Curiosity

Curiosity is a value that has shaped my personal and professional life. I didn’t grow up with a strong culture of travel, but something in me was always drawn to the wider world. That drive led me to study abroad, and eventually to spend 10 years living overseas after college. Curiosity pushed me to experience the world’s tallest towers and its most remote islands. It taught me to ask questions, seek context, and embrace perspectives different from my own.

At caa, I see that same passion in my team every day. Curiosity is essential in our line of work. It guides the interviews our content managers conduct with local government officials, CEOs, industry experts, and community leaders. It ensures the articles and annual reports we produce offer depth, relevance, and clarity for readers making investment decisions or exploring regional business trends. It shows up in brainstorming sessions when everyone is leaning in, debating ideas, and scratching that itch to understand more.

Curiosity is also what allows us to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape. It keeps us engaged with new economic developments, policy shifts, innovation trends, and community priorities. I’m grateful to lead a team that approaches every conversation and every market with a genuine desire to learn.

Dedication

If adaptability drives agility and curiosity sparks innovation, dedication is what grounds all of it. I’ve always believed that if you’re going to do something, do it right. That philosophy runs deep within our organization. Dedication is visible in the way our content managers prepare for each interview, ensuring they understand the industries and leaders they’re engaging. It’s seen in the tireless work of our executive directors who build relationships in the cities we cover and bring entire communities together at our events. It’s demonstrated daily by our managers who lead with consistency, reliability, and heart.

One of the proudest moments for any leader is realizing the team can operate seamlessly without you in the room. That’s when you know dedication is not just a value, it’s a culture. At caa, that culture is powerful, and it’s something that fills me with pride and gratitude.

Of course, my gratitude list extends far beyond these three qualities. I’m thankful for the support we receive from business communities across our markets, for the thoughtful feedback our readers share, and for the future we are building together. But gratitude isn’t a once-a-year exercise for me, it’s a daily practice. Every day offers something to acknowledge, whether large or small.

Gratitude

So here is my challenge to leaders reading this: Take this season to reflect deeply on what you’re grateful for, but don’t wait until next Thanksgiving to do it again. Build gratitude into the rhythm of how you lead. Notice the people, the progress, and the small moments that shape your organization. Because when gratitude becomes part of your leadership routine, everything else becomes a little clearer, steadier, and more meaningful.