Same Company, Different Wrappers

What Toilet Paper Taught Me About Teams, Trust, and Alignment

Not long ago, I had one of those moments that only someone who facilitates leadership and team retreats would turn into a metaphor.

I was in a public restroom (glamorous, I know), and as I glanced over, I noticed something odd: the toilet paper holder was branded Scott, but the toilet paper inside was clearly Cottonelle. A little branding mismatch in the bathroom isn’t exactly headline news, but it made me curious — why would one company’s product be sitting inside another’s dispenser?

Naturally, I had to investigate. (Because that’s what any good facilitator with an eye for analogies does, right?) And guess what? Both Scott and Cottonelle are owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Same parent company. Different look. Different feel. But working toward the same purpose — serving people every day, in big ways and small.

It hit me that this setup is a perfect picture of what strong teams, organizations, and communities often look like. On the surface, things may seem mismatched or even conflicting. But when you zoom out, you see they’re part of the same system — designed differently, branded uniquely, but all aligned with a common mission.

Let’s talk about what this means in real life — whether you’re leading a chamber of commerce, a nonprofit, a business team, or a community organization.

1. Not Everything Has to Look the Same to Work Together

In the world of leadership, there’s often an unspoken expectation that “good teams” all look, act, and think alike. But if every member of your team approaches things the same way, you’re missing out on the power of diversity — not just in background or identity, but in perspective, strengths, communication styles, and creative approaches.

Scott and Cottonelle serve the same core purpose — but they do it differently. And that’s the point. Some people want simple and no-frills. Others want softness and luxury. The company wins when it can reach more people with more styles.

The same is true for your team.

Let your team members bring their own unique “brand” to the table. Don’t expect everyone to wrap their ideas or solutions the same way. That variety is your advantage.

2. Just Because It Looks Different Doesn’t Mean It Doesn’t Belong

There are moments in any organization where someone (or something) feels out of place. A new hire, a different approach, a fresh initiative. And we think, “That doesn’t quite fit here.” But maybe — just maybe — it does. It just takes a wider view to see the alignment.

In the restroom, Cottonelle looked like it didn’t belong in the Scott holder. But in reality, it wasn’t a mistake. It was strategy. It was flexibility. It was resourcefulness.

If you’re a leader, don’t dismiss something just because it looks or feels new. Ask:

• Does it support our mission?

• Does it serve our team or our members?

• Could it help us reach a different audience or fill a gap?

Different doesn’t mean wrong. Sometimes, it means right for right now.

3. Brands Can Be Distinct and Still Aligned

Think about your team — or your board, or your volunteer group. Each person has their own style, their own “brand” of leadership. Some are bold. Some are soft-spoken. Some bring spreadsheets. Others bring snacks. (Bless those people.)

The key is helping everyone see that, no matter how they show up, they are part of something bigger than themselves. A mission. A purpose. A shared vision.

Kimberly-Clark doesn’t make all its brands look alike. Why? Because it knows that different branding reaches different people. But underneath it all, there’s a shared identity and a strategic plan.

That’s what we want for our teams — a culture where people can bring their full selves to the table while still being aligned around the vision.

4. Your Tools Should Match Your Culture — But Don’t Let the Wrong Container Limit the Right Content

Let’s go back to the Scott holder for a second. It was designed for a certain product. But when something else fit the space and served the purpose, they didn’t throw the whole system out. They worked with what they had. That’s flexibility.

Sometimes in organizations, we get so caught up in whether something fits perfectly within the "container" we’ve built — a process, a job description, a meeting agenda — that we forget the bigger picture. Does it get the job done? Does it support the people we’re here to serve?

I’ve facilitated enough retreats to know: what your team needs most is clarity of mission and flexibility of approach.

Make room for what works — even if it looks different than you expected.

5. The Bigger Picture Always Reveals the Connection

Whether you're in a leadership role at a chamber, a nonprofit, or a business, you're probably working with people who don’t all see things the same way. And that’s not a flaw — that’s your biggest asset.

But only if you take the time to zoom out and help everyone see the bigger picture.

Your organization’s equivalent of “Kimberly-Clark” might be your mission statement, your strategic plan, or your culture values. When people know what they’re part of, they don’t mind looking or sounding different. They understand their role in something meaningful.

Wrapping (Pun Intended) It All Up

So yes — I saw a roll of Cottonelle toilet paper in a Scott dispenser and turned it into a leadership analogy. You can’t unsee it now either, can you?

But here’s the truth: leadership lessons are all around us. And sometimes, they show up in the most ordinary places — like a public restroom.

If you're leading a team right now, here's your takeaway:

• Don’t expect uniformity. Strive for unity.

• Value what each person brings, even if it's packaged differently.

• Revisit your mission, reconnect your team, and remind them that different “brands” can still roll in the same direction.

Because when you lead with alignment, you don’t have to choose between Scott or Cottonelle — you get the best of both worlds.

I am here to help chambers, businesses, nonprofits, and organizations gain clarity, connect their team, and move forward with purpose. I am a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach and a professional facilitator who believes that leadership is personal, progress is possible, and the best metaphors often come when you least expect them — even in a bathroom.