Vision Provides a Clear Target

Cathie Leimbach • January 20, 2025

Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of Zingerman's, takes vision statements seriously. For him, a vision statement is not just a few lines; it’s often a page or two long, painting a vivid and inspiring picture of the future. He believes that a good vision should describe what people will see and feel when they achieve their goals. It should include details about the environment, the atmosphere, and the experiences that make it special.


Creating a powerful vision is essential for success. It needs to be inspiring and strategically sound, guiding everyone involved toward a common goal. Ari emphasizes that writing down this vision is just the first step. It’s equally important to communicate it effectively so that everyone understands and shares the excitement.


Now, Ari trains others to develop their own vision statements that inspire success. He encourages people to think deeply about their dreams and aspirations, helping them craft visions that motivate and unite their teams. By focusing on a clear, inspiring vision, individuals and organizations can create a strong sense of purpose and direction. Ari Weinzweig’s approach reminds us that a well-crafted vision can be a powerful tool for achieving great things.



As you step into 2025, take an hour or two in a quiet, comfortable place to think about what would make the year ahead your best year yet. What do you want your spiritual life to be like? Your home life? Your work life? If you had an ideal life, what would that feel like? What would you experience? What would you accomplish? Jot down your answers to these questions and review them every day. Staying focused on the important things in your life, will bring more joy to you and enable you to show more love to others. May focusing on your Vision help you experience a Happy New Year!

How Leadership Growth Drives Business Performance

By Cathie Leimbach • June 17, 2025
Herminia Ibarra’s research offers compelling insight into why leadership development should be viewed as a strategic priority. Her work shows that helping leaders grow isn’t just beneficial for individuals—it significantly improves how organizations operate and perform. Ibarra explores how leadership identity evolves over time. When managers step back from daily tasks and begin thinking and acting more strategically, it creates ripple effects across the organization. Teams become more engaged, decision-making improves, and execution becomes more effective. These shifts enhance productivity, innovation, and retention—key drivers of long-term success. Her research also highlights the value of building strong leadership pipelines. Companies that invest in leaders who are adaptable, self-aware, and skilled at big-picture thinking tend to be more agile and resilient. These organizations are better equipped to respond to change and seize new opportunities. By reframing leadership development as a strategic investment rather than a soft skill, Ibarra shows how it creates measurable improvements in performance across the organization. Growth in leadership capacity leads to smarter decisions, healthier cultures, and stronger overall results. 👉 For a deeper dive into the data, click here to view Insights from Herminia Ibarra’s Research on Leadership Development and its Measurable Impact.

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.
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