Book Content - The Collective Intelligence Catalyst

Interview with the authors

April 2nd, 2026
Watch this space for Maureen and Cristina’s interview on the book.

What’s Inside the Book?

Discover the key ideas and principles behind
The Collective Intelligence Catalyst

Testimonials

“This book is a powerful call to action for every leader who believes their team is capable of more. With clarity and conviction, it shows how empathy, trust, and courageous action can unlock hidden potential and transform ordinary groups into extraordinary forces for change in the workplace. It is both a practical resource and an inspiring manifesto for leaders ready to ignite purpose and unleash the best in their people.”

“In a complex and uncertain world change is the New Norm and leveraging Collective Intelligence to adapt quickly is your competitive advantage. “The Collective Intelligence Catalyst” delivers a meaningful and actionable competence based approach for impactful change agents. It defines the role and core competencies required to nurture and facilitate collective intelligence by integrating a pragmatic collaboration toolkit with the essential values and beliefs necessary to maximise value creation in groups. "

“This book is a true source of inspiration for those who wish to enhance collaboration and creativity within their team or work group. The LEAF Model presented in this book provides us with valuable tools to transform our meetings into genuine opportunities for innovation and the search for sustainable solutions. It demonstrates that with the right method and collective intelligence, we can achieve results far superior to what we could reach alone. I am convinced that by integrating the LEAF Model into our daily routines, we foster a collaborative culture that strengthens the engagement and satisfaction of group members.”

“I've had the privilege of experiencing the power of the wisdom of groups through numerous cross-functional meetings - often spanning departments and countries. These experiences have brought both successes and valuable lessons. This book offers a practical and insightful guide that resonates strongly with what I’ve encountered, particularly in implementing these processes on a global scale. I’m convinced that this book and the LEAF Methodology will help further evolve collective intelligence practices and enhance the outcomes of future meetings."

“The future will not be written by individual heroes, but by groups that truly know how to think together. I've learned that impossible problems never yield to solitary genius. It's when collective intelligence ignites that new paths are born, transforming differences into concrete possibilities and complexities into brilliant solutions. This book invites us to become catalysts for that incredible potential, creating workplaces that are authentically human, bursting with creativity, and radically effective. It's not theory: it's an invitation to unleash that shared energy that, once activated, becomes the true renewable force of our time. And believe me, we urgently need it.”

“At PRO, we experience complexity every day: all disabilities, all ages, 53 nationalities, and more than 60 professions united within a single organisation. This diversity is our strength, but it also represents a considerable challenge for our managers. How can we unite such different life paths while guaranteeing our 800 clients quality, prices, and deadlines? Because at PRO, economic performance and social mission are not in opposition: they reinforce each other. The LEAF Methodology provides us with a concrete answer: transforming this complexity into collective strength. The overall approach put forward by the authors is not an abstract concept but a living practice, teaching us to listen differently, ask the right questions, and create a framework where everyone can contribute to the fullest extent of their talents. In this climate, the best solutions emerge from dialogue, not isolation.”

On the back cover

This book shows you how to become a Collective Intelligence Catalyst, an agent for change and meeting facilitator, who creates the right conditions so that the group, working together, comes up with better ideas and solutions than one person working on their own. In these pages, you will find clear tips and tools to:

Leverage collective wisdom with the LEAF Model to get the best out of any group.

Empower meeting participants to express their full potential in a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Activate contribution from each person to capitalise upon diverse perspectives and find alternative ways of doing things.

Facilitate better solutions and smarter decisions by considering problems from different angles and finding ways to use available resources more effectively.

About the authors

CRISTINA BIANCHI

Maureen Steele

CRISTINA BIANCHI

Maureen Steele

Cristina and Maureen have collaborated as trainers, facilitators and coaches since 2008. They are the co-authors of “Coaching for Innovation: Tools and Techniques for Encouraging New Ideas in the Workplace” (2014, Palgrave McMillan), a book which has accompanied the training of hundreds of managers and team leaders around the world, encouraging them to step into a coaching role to foster creativity and innovation. Both share a strong belief in the wisdom of groups and a desire for those with whom they work to realise their own potential. They are dedicated to provoking a broader cultural change that makes the workplace more fulfilling and sustainable. In their work and writing, they aim to provide others with the kind of accessible tools, tips and methodologies that have the potential to make the aspirational workplace of the future a reality. Cristina (who is originally Italian) and Maureen (who is originally from the UK) met in Switzerland. Their partnership is founded on trust and thrives on their differences as well as their similarities. They write every single word together and discuss concepts and ideas until they are both satisfied with the final result. The output of these discussions, sometimes lengthy but always enjoyable and stimulating, is always better and stronger because they get to that result together. When it comes to Maureen and Cristina 1+1 really does = 3.

the LEAF Model

At the core of the book is an original model, the LEAF Model (Bianchi/Steele 2024). This is a process for leading a meeting that is driven by a series of questions. With these questions, the Collective Intelligence Catalyst explores and taps into the collective potential of the participants. The model is designed to be applied in a 1-day face-to-face fully focused meeting but is flexible enough to be split into shorter multiple sessions of approximately 2 hours each. It can also be applied virtually. The guidelines for using the LEAF Model at meetings and the key skills and competences needed to become a fully effective Collective Intelligence Catalyst are outlined simply, clearly and step-by-step in our book.