At Zingerman’s, the visioning process is the act of describing a picture of what success looks like at a particular point in time in the future, described with enough richness of detail that we’ll know when we’ve arrived. Visioning has played an essential part in Zingerman’s successful growth over 40 years. Learn about how visioning […]
Zingerman’s didn’t invent the idea of Servant Leadership – we learned our approach from Robert Greenleaf and have adapted his thoughts, along with the thoughts of many other leaders we’ve admired, into our approach to Servant Leadership. While some people focus on the perceived disadvantages of servant leadership, such as the potential for slower decision-making, […]
To build a culture of great service, taking time to define and teach your expectations to staff will give you more consistent results. Explore five essential components of developing and maintaining a culture of great service in your organization. Contact ZingTrain to learn about customer service seminars and workshops that share tools to enhance your […]
Zingerman’s has used visions to guide our organization’s success for 30 years! Co-founding partners, Ari & Paul, wrote our first company vision back in 1994. They imagined Zingerman’s growing into a community of several Ann Arbor-based food businesses – and ZingTrain was founded in this same year! In 2007, the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses had […]
Change is an inevitable part of life. Organizations embark on new initiatives, businesses begin to offer new products and services, managers want to improve the way their team is working, individuals desire personal and professional growth. But for many of us, change is also challenging. We humans are creatures of habit. Our brains love recognizing […]
Ask anyone who’s been through our customer service training, and chances are they’ll tell you that the 10-4 Rule is their favorite tool. The 10-4 Rule is a simple customer service technique that ensures every single person who enters your orbit is acknowledged and greeted. It actively puts your focus on the world around you […]
What could it look like if anyone in your organization had a real path to grow into leadership, or even ownership? At Zingerman’s, we often say that anyone has the opportunity to become a partner. But it isn’t opportunity alone! We’ve also built supportive systems throughout our organization to develop leaders. In this 45-minute webinar, you’ll […]
First things first. What do we mean when we say the word vision? At Zingerman’s, a vision is a written picture of what success looks like at a particular point in the future, with enough descriptive detail that people can envision it in their minds. It describes how things look, smell, sound, and feel when we’re living in […]
Community Events are a unique way to bring ZingTrain to your locale and share the training experience with people beyond your own organization. Imagine a member association offering a day-long Zing-Training at a reduced cost to its members. Or a few small businesses pooling their resources together for team training. Or a local cafe making […]
Every team goes through ups and downs, and sometimes the culture can take a hit—whether through a slow drift or a sudden shake-up. This energy shift can be overwhelming for leaders, especially as daily demands persist. In this webinar, we explore practical strategies for recognizing when your team’s culture needs attention and how to begin the process […]
Twice a year, we offer our Leadership Development Workshop Series, consisting of eight virtual workshops designed for anyone seeking a comprehensive leadership training program, with additional support from ZingTrain and cohort participants. It’s a very popular, impactful training – and we realize that one size does not fit all! Many organizations have taken this concept and adapted […]
There is magic in bringing your team to ZingTrain. It’s been our flagship experience since 1996, and we built a customized space specifically for it! Join the hundreds of learners who come to ZingTrain each year for a fresh perspective on their work and purpose, from bank branch managers across the country to the entire crew […]
Pop Quiz! What do all of these things have in common? School library, tribal hall, church basement, pole barn, casino floor, downtown cafe, hotel ballroom, botanical garden, the World Trade Center. Answer? They’re all places you’ve invited us to train your teams! We’ve got decades of experience MacGyvering workshops in practically any location. The tools […]
The Business Perspective Chart (aka “the BPC”) is one of our favorite training tools here at Zingerman’s. Created by ZingTrain founder, Maggie Bayless, this chart is a graphic representation of the key elements of our organization and how they work together to inspire and guide our daily work. Many organizations have adapted our Business Perspective […]
In today’s competitive job market, first impressions matter – a lot. The way we treat job applicants sets an example of our entire workplace culture. By showing candidates respect, kindness, and clear communication, we not only make them feel valued but also demonstrate the standard for how we treat customers. Regardless of whether they get the job, […]
Kneading and Leading gives kids who love baking a taste of servant leadership A compelling vision can bring an organization’s goals to life and give employees from all levels of the organization a North Star to follow. A vision is also a source of inspiration, helping employees see how their work matters while finding opportunities […]
Erika began working at Outdoor Sylvania in 2000 and has been the Executive Director for the last decade. Outdoor Sylvania is a government-funded organization that manages recreational parks in Sylvania, Ohio. She considers great service to the community her main responsibility and that of all employees. Growing up in Toledo, “Ann Arbor was synonymous with Zingerman’s”, but it […]
