TZL 1614 (web)

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just planning; it was leadership in action. The prep, the facilitation, and the tone created space for vulnerability and buy-in. What emerged wasn’t just a plan, but a shared momentum that carried into execution. The energy didn’t fade; it grew louder. Client testimonial: “The impact you made in leading up to and during the retreat made this possible. The team walked away feeling aligned, inspired, and more unified than ever. And the momentum kept building even after the retreat.” Planning is where leadership grows up. When done right, it’s not the end of a process but the beginning of a movement. 5. Build systems that protect your people. Growth shouldn’t come at the cost of peace. If your plan depends on heroic effort, it’s not sustainable. One small, award-winning architecture firm had the right vision but needed scaffolding to make it real. Through Zweig Group’s facilitation, they co-created a growth operating system with rhythms, checkpoints, and messaging tools to support their people as they scale. Client testimonial: “I don’t know what came over me to be so emotional about it, but I was moved by the alignment I was hearing from our team members. You and your team got us to that place.” Structure doesn’t suffocate creativity. It gives your people the space to breathe and believe again. YOU’VE BUILT THE GROWTH. NOW BUILD THE LEADERSHIP. These are real stories from real firms. Each faced the same inflection point: fast growth, mounting expectations, and leaders wondering what’s next and whether they are ready for it. What made the difference wasn’t a better spreadsheet. It was a better process rooted in trust, alignment, and courage. Zweig Group helped guide that journey, not with a cookie-cutter plan, but with strategic facilitation, deep listening, and a bias toward action. If you are thinking about the next chapter of your firm’s strategy and growth and want to make sure your people are ready to own it, let’s connect! Not just to plan, but to build leadership capacity for the long haul. The kind that sustains growth, inspires belief, and anchors your firm’s future. Ying Liu, LEED AP BD+C is senior director of Growth consulting at Zweig Group. Contact her at yliu@zweiggroup.com.

YING LIU, from page 1

Real alignment isn’t just agreement; it’s connection. And alignment without commitment still breaks. Connected commitment is what makes the plan work. 2. Let the next generation in. When firms talk about legacy, they often forget: the next generation is the legacy. But rising leaders won’t believe in a vision they never helped create. At a nationally respected architectural firm, an emerging leader, not yet a principal, helped shape the firm’s long- term vision. Her contribution reframed how leadership saw the future. And because her fingerprints were on the plan, her buy-in became contagious. Client testimonial: “I’ve never been in a room where I felt so energized, connected, and aligned across generations. Seeing the draft 2030 vision statement made me emotional – like I could actually latch onto this and own it. I’m ready to be an ambassador for this firm in ways I never imagined before.” Inclusion isn’t just about voice but about belonging. And belonging creates energy that no incentive program can buy. 3. Coach for courage, not compliance. Growth demands new muscles. And the hardest one to build is courage to let go, delegate, decide, and sometimes, redefine success. A national construction management firm didn’t need more process. They needed permission to lead, to trust, to grow. We paired strategy with coaching, helping each market leader step into their role more fully. They started making better decisions, faster. Not because they had a script, but because they had support. Client testimonial: “The reason our team is still excited about execution and acting collaboratively is because of the clarity, trust, and confidence that came out of the retreat and the strategic planning work you led.” Strategy isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress that people can believe in. 4. Turn planning into a live rehearsal. A plan isn’t a document. It’s a moment and a rehearsal for how your leaders will act when it counts. Every retreat, every workshop, is a stage for practicing how to listen, decide, and lead. At an offsite with a national full-service AEC + CM/PM firm, we structured the experience to feel like more than

THE ZWEIG LETTER DECEMBER 29, 2025, ISSUE 1614

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