The Power of Core Values: Why They Matter for Companies and Employees

Cathie Leimbach • May 6, 2025

Having strong core values is like giving your company a compass. These values guide decisions, shape culture, and help everyone work toward the same goals. When employees connect with these values, both they and the company benefit in many ways.


First, core values create a sense of unity. When everyone follows the same principles, teamwork becomes easier. People understand what matters and why certain choices are made. This shared understanding builds trust among coworkers.


Core values also make decision-making simpler. When facing tough choices, employees can ask, "Does this align with our values?" This creates consistency across the organization and helps avoid confusion.


For employees, connecting with company values brings greater job satisfaction. Working for an organization whose principles match your own feels meaningful. You're not just earning a paycheck—you're contributing to something you believe in.


If your organization doesn’t have core values, or you have values on paper that are no longer relevant,click here for a tool to help you identify values that express your business principles. 


Companies with clear values tend to attract people who naturally fit their culture. This leads to stronger teams, less turnover, and better performance. When new hires already share your values, they adapt more quickly and stay longer.



Finally, strong core values build customer trust. When a company consistently lives its values, people notice. This authenticity creates loyalty that advertising alone cannot buy.

Age and Gender Shape How Employees Want to Be Appreciated

By Cathie Leimbach • June 10, 2025
In today’s evolving workplace, one constant remains: employees want to feel valued. Interestingly, research comparing data from before and after COVID-19 shows that employees' preferred languages of appreciation have remained remarkably consistent over time. However, age and gender differences reveal important nuances leaders shouldn’t ignore. Gender differences are clear. Men more frequently chose Acts of Service as their preferred form of appreciation (26%), while women gravitated toward Words of Affirmation (46%). When asked about their least preferred language, women were more likely to rank Acts of Service at the bottom, while men showed a strong dislike for Tangible Gifts. Age also matters. Employees over 60 overwhelmingly preferred Words of Affirmation (48%), while the youngest generation (under 20) leaned toward Quality Time (33%). These trends suggest that life stage and workplace experience shape what appreciation feels most meaningful.  The takeaway? While core preferences haven't shifted dramatically post-COVID, effective leaders need to understand and respond to individual differences. Avoid blanket strategies and invest in knowing how each team member feels most valued. Personalized appreciation builds stronger teams—across every generation and gender. For further details, see Dr. Paul White’s article on gender differences in appreciation preference.

Why Better Leaders Mean Better Bottom Lines

By Cathie Leimbach • June 3, 2025
Let’s talk straight—leadership development isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s the engine behind real economic progress. John Kotter, a world-renowned voice in leadership and change, made it clear: organizations don’t rise or fall on products alone—they succeed because of how well they lead through change. When leaders know how to cast vision, inspire action, and adapt quickly, the ripple effect is huge. Teams become more engaged. Strategy gets implemented faster. Resistance turns into momentum. And yes—revenue and results improve.  Kotter’s work shows that companies with strong leadership navigate uncertainty better and capture more market share during tough times. Why? Because effective leaders create clarity in the chaos. They don’t just manage—they lead change with purpose. If we want to strengthen our teams, our organizations, and even our communities, we have to prioritize leadership development. Not later—now. Because when leadership improves, so does everything else. That’s not just theory. That’s proven strategy. Click here to view the document: Better Leader = Better Bottom Lines and see why investing in leadership pays off. Let’s build leaders who build better futures.
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