Why leaders who collaborate and form communities grow faster

Fast Company

6 days ago

I used to believe that growth was a solo sprint. If I worked hard enough, fast enough, and long enough, I'd get there. However, what I've learned as a speaker, writer, and entrepreneur is that growth is actually shaped and strengthened by the people you work alongside.
We often talk about scaling through capital or technology, but sometimes the most powerful accelerator is connection. When I started actively seeking out peer networks—rooms filled with smart, driven people outside my own lane—my strategy changed. My ideas got sharper. My knowledge gaps became visible. My work, especially as a storyteller, felt less like shouting into the void and more like a conversation with people who saw things I didn't.
In this article, I'll share what I've learned about peer networks and why every founder, creator, or changemaker should build one with intention.
When you're surrounded by people who approach problems from completely different angles, it forces you to reconsider your assumptions and sharpen your ideas. Some of my most significant turning points came from small moments, like a friend in retail helping me rethink user onboarding or a healthcare founder offering a new take on accessibility in digital content.
That's the value of range. It doesn't matter if someone is in logistics or live entertainment; when they think differently, they help you do better work.
Research backs this up. An MIT study introduced the concept of x-teams, which are agile groups that regularly engage with people who don't share their core function. By engaging with peers outside their domain, these teams became more innovative and adaptable. This drives creativity and outcomes that are more practical and ready for implementation.
COLLABORATION BREEDS ACCOUNTABILITY
Ideas are one thing; action is another. The biggest hurdle I've seen, especially for solo founders or consultants, isn't a lack of ideas. It's a lack of follow-through. That's why peer accountability can be a powerful motivator. When you share your goals with a group of driven people, you don't just make promises to yourself. You make them to a room full of people watching, cheering, and pushing you to move.
Having an accountability partner comes with powerful psychological benefits. It helps individuals stay consistent, motivated, and committed to their goals. This mutual support system creates a sense of responsibility not just to oneself but to someone else, increasing the likelihood of follow-through even during challenging periods.
I've seen this play out in mastermind groups where someone will say, 'Did you ever launch that landing page?' or 'You said you were going to pitch that publication. Did you?' These aren't just nudges; they're catalysts. When your peers believe in your potential, it gets harder to hide from it.
FEEDBACK LOOPS DRIVE INNOVATION
We love to glorify the gut instinct, but even the sharpest instinct benefits from feedback. One of the most overlooked parts of peer networks is the role they play in real-time iteration.
I've tested pitches, headlines, and even business models in small rooms before putting them out publicly. Each time, I walked away with sharper, more innovative work. That's because feedback in a safe, intelligent environment helps you fail faster and grow quicker.
According to Harvard Business Review, consistent feedback is strongly linked to higher job satisfaction. Constructive feedback, in particular, plays a crucial role by offering clear direction for growth and helping identify areas for improvement. The same principle applies to peer communities, mastermind groups, or even casual founder circles.
The best ideas are rarely born in isolation. They're pressure-tested by people who ask, 'Have you thought about it this way?' or 'What if you did less, but better?' Those are the questions that move a good strategy toward greatness.
COLLABORATION OUTLIVES THE PROGRAM
Some of the most valuable connections I've made didn't come from networking events. They came from programs where people built something together. That's why structured peer groups, like accelerators or leadership collectives, are so powerful.
I recently met with Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross, a leadership strategist and founder of SP Grace. When she joined the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, her goal was to strengthen her company's growth strategy. What she left with was far more than a new business plan. In working alongside 29 other founders from vastly different industries, she found a network that became a sounding board, a challenge circle, and, in many ways, a co-pilot team. Their feedback helped her refine her service offering, The College Smarter Method, before launch. It wasn't just the curriculum that shaped her next move. It was the people.
She's not alone. A Babson College impact study on the Goldman Sachs program found that 66% of alumni increased revenues within six months of completing the program, and 46% created new jobs. This tells us something important. Business success doesn't live in a vacuum. It's shaped in a community.
A FINAL THOUGHT: BUILD YOUR TABLE
If there's one lesson I keep returning to, it's this: Build your table before you need it. The peer network that accelerates your next move won't materialize overnight. It takes intentionality—one conversation, one collaboration, and one shared Google Doc at a time.
Reach out to people in different sectors. Offer value before you ask for it. Show up consistently, and when you find your people—the ones who challenge you, support you, and help you refine your thinking—invest in those relationships. While tools and tactics change, the human connections that drive business remain.