Connected Culture: The New Science For Thriving Teams and Cultures

You can’t build what you can’t measure—and most culture efforts fail for that very reason.In a world where “culture” is both a buzzword and a business imperative, Connected Culture delivers something rare: a clear, evidence-based roadmap for building trust, cohesion, and lasting performance across teams and organizations. Executive coach and organizational psychologist Jamie Shapiro has spent decades working with CEOs—especially in high-stakes, high-pressure public company environments. Her frustration with fragmented initiatives and ineffective frameworks led to the creation of the 5Cs Model of Team Cohesion and Thriving Organizational Culture, developed in partnership with the culture experts at Principles. Grounded in research and built for real-world leadership, the 5Cs Model helps organizations measure, understand, and improve five essential drivers: Connection – Trust and wellbeing Candid Communication – Psychological safety, feedback, and transparency Clarity – Defined roles, processes, and shared goals Collaboration – Team support, accountability, and collective excellence Contribution – Purpose, values, and meaningful impact at work Together, these five factors account for nearly 80% of culture satisfaction and nearly half of all job satisfaction. With practical tools, team examples, and clear measurement strategies, Connected Culture gives leaders the insight—and the structure—they need to create environments where people thrive and performance follows. Whether you're taking on a CEO role, rebuilding a senior team, or trying to lead change across a complex organization, this book offers the clarity, language, and framework to guide the way. Read more