The Long Win in Business

The Long Win in Business

I have seen how narrow, shallow and short-term definitions of success can limit organizational performance, hold back teams and minimize outcomes. The Long Win offers a way to define success that sets us up to explore what we’re capable of together over the long-term, using the 3Cs framework of Clarity, Constant Learning and Connection which I have used with companies of all sizes across all sectors.

This page contains references, stories and downloadable worksheets to help deepen your Long Win Thinking and develop practical ideas for how to put it into practice in your business. They accompany the Stories of Long Winners in the new Chapter of the second edition of The Long Win.

Long Win Stories

Alejandro Cadena, CEO of Caravela Coffee, a purpose-driven company which aims to improve both the quality of coffee and the sustainability and equality of the coffee industry is one of the ‘Long Win’ leaders that I write about in the second edition of The Long Win.

Climate change, migration, price volatility, inflation, uncertain markets all create challenges for Caravela. The company’s leaders understand that in order to manage this dynamic environment, the company’s culture needs to change. To that end, they have embarked on a transition to greater self-management, following many of the principles in Frederick Laloux’s work Reinventing Organizations.   

More details in the new Chapter in the second edition of The Long Win and here One Caravela – Caravela Coffee 

James Timpson, CEO of Timpson Group, is a ‘Long Win’ leader who advocates for an “upside-down management” style and culture where employees are given a high degree of autonomy and authority to serve customers as they see fit. This approach is part of a broader cultural ethos that emphasises staff satisfaction and societal contribution as key measures of business success.

Timpson is also known for his work in prison reform and his commitment to hiring ex-offenders, integrating them into the company’s culture seamlessly. His leadership philosophy centres on the happiness of his colleagues, believing that a content workforce naturally leads to better business outcomes. 

More information in this recent interview with James Timpson after he recently published his book ‘The Happy Index’: Timpson’s boss on upside-down management and business secrets (youtube.com)

Share Your Long Win Story from Business Here

References & Long Win Thinking materials:

How Collaboration Can Be More Effective Than Competition (ceotodaymagazine.com) 

Frederick Laloux, Reinventing Organizations, Book review here: (PDF) Book Review: Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness by Frederic Laloux (researchgate.net)  (this can be downloaded as a PDF)

Patty McCord,Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility

Brad Stuhlberg, Master of Change

Daniel Coyle, The Culture Code, Book review at: (PDF) The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups (Book Review) (researchgate.net) and summary at: The Culture Code Book Summary by Daniel Coyle (shortform.com)  and The Culture Playbook

Jonathan Males, The Work Revolution

For all the scandals, a toxic culture in places like the CBI and the Met can be changed. Here’s how | Cath Bishop | The Guardian

Downloads: Long Win Worksheets

Long Win Thinking Reading List (PDF)

Long Win Thinking Daily Reflection Questions (PDF)

See also:

The Long Win in Sport

The Long Win in Education

The Long Win in Society

Writing & Media

Testimonials

‘I love this book. It is a must-read for educators, business executives, policy makers, politicians and indeed anyone who wants to understand why we need a new narrative around winning and success. We need a lot more Long-Win Thinking in our homes, businesses and institutions and Cath’s book is the place to go to find out why – and how we get there.’
Dame Helena Morrissey
‘The Long Win will prompt you to unlearn and relearn what it means to be a success, individually and collectively, in a way that reflects the world of work around us. Every team is better when they spend some time learning from The Long Win.'
Sarah Ellis & Helen TupperCo-Founders of Amazing If, Co-Hosts of The Squiggly Careers Podcast, Authors of The Squiggly Career and You Coach You
‘I could relate to everything in this book which applies to any leader wanting to take a long-term view of business success. In business, there is no final destination or finite measure of what winning means, so it's essential for our teams to enjoy the journey.’
John MorganGroup CEO of Morgan Sindall Group plc
‘A gold medal is a simple goal, near impossible to win. Beyond the brutal simplicity of sport, can the concept of winning help us? What exactly do we want to win, and why? By posing and examining this question, this book helps us learn more, know ourselves better, and connect with renewed purpose with the world of business, family, life.’
Matt BrittinPresident of Google EMEA, Olympian
‘Long Win Thinking shifts our mindset from a focus on “winning is the only thing” to a process-based orientation that fosters a more inclusive and reflective attitude to success. A great reflective work that shows how shifting our approach to success can lead to happier and healthier outcomes.’
Professor Alex GerbasiDeputy Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Leadership, University of Exeter Business School
‘A thorough and fascinating journey through sport, education, diplomacy and business piecing together the elements that build genuine and sustained success and, as importantly, pinpointing what gets in the way. It will make you think hard about your own team’s approach and priorities.’
Roger BaylyManaging Director, Alvarez & Marsal
‘This is an absorbing, candid, nicely crafted book that, using helpful illustrations, forces us to reconsider what we mean by “winning”. It persuasively argues of the merits of taking a longer-term view. This “long win” is grounded in a considered take on what it is we genuinely want from life and, working backwards, how this might shape our choices today.’
Professor Mark de RondProfessor of Organizational Ethnography, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
‘I love this book and all it stands for. Whether you think you have won it all, or you think you’ve never won in life, Cath skilfully blows apart our taken-for-granted notion of winning and all that we take it to mean. Using her own poignant story and drawing on many other walks of life, she gives us an inclusive view of what winning means, so we can create a healthy and sustainable 21st century world.’
Dr Alison MaitlandSport Psychologist, HR Director and Consultant
‘In a world where sustainability and inter-connection have gained wide recognition as core drivers for business success and purposeful work, Cath Bishop’s book The Long Win is a timely and important contribution to re-define what success and winning mean. She re-emphasizes the importance of people at the core of the “Long Win”. The three Cs – Clarity, Constant Learning and Connection – are based on her rich personal experience as Olympic rower and champion, diplomat and leadership speaker, writer and consultant and they build the foundation for sustained winning. An inspiring and personal book on one of our greatest leadership challenges today!’
Smaranda Gosa-MensingFellow of Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
‘Increasing performance is the most important conversation within teams and organizations searching for success. Cath Bishop’s thought-provoking and illuminating book is a compelling guide to how to do it. This visionary book draws on the latest research and Cath’s own experiences as an elite athlete and a high-level diplomat. Everyone who is interested in performance should read it.’
Dr Philip StilesSenior Lecturer in Corporate Governance, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
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