1. "It's okay to change a company"
- This is particularly relevant to me, working in the tech industry. I try to not only be open to change, but to embrace it.
- From the book: "Stick your head in the sand, and your business will stay stuck in the past. If you face reality and move quickly, you have a chance to compete and win in a changing business environment".
2. "Take good ideas and run with them"
- GE is a pioneer of the Six Sigma quality initiative. As a Green Belt, I know how important it is to keep learning to gain improvements. Learning from everyone by really opening your eyes and truly listening to others.
- From the book: "These are our three ingredients for success... Build a good team, share ideas, across businesses, give them resources to go. That's it."
3. "Act like a small company"
- I noticed a big change moving from a small company to a large corporation - but I've also seen quick & nimble teams within a large company working with well defined roles to make quick decisions for implementation. Successful senior leaders will work relentlessly to remove barriers and provide a simple clear path to action. This helps avoid the "why bother" trap when employees have a good idea but can't bother fighting for it.
- From the book: "Small companies move faster. They know the penalties for hesitation in the marketplace. What we are trying relentlessly to do is get that small-company soul - and small-company speed - inside our big-company body."
4. "Turn employees into owners"
- I am happiest when I feel personally responsible for my work output and have the power to set my own direction to accomplish a larger goal. I hope that I extend the same courtesy and respect to my peers when I am asking for a goal to be met.
- From the book: "The way to harness the power of these people is to protect them, not to sit on them, but to turn them loose, let them go. ... Empowering and liberating and exhilarating".
5. "Simplicity"
- We've all heard 'Keep it Simple' but it's hard to do when getting excited about something new and emerging. Especially in an industry with more acronyms than one can ever keep up with, I try to remind myself to communicate in a way that everyone will understand. A good motto I heard years ago is to speak like your grandmother is in the audience. Be respectful of your intended audience and focus on clarity.
- From the book: "Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster, and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making".
I hope to have inspired you to pick up '29 Leadership Secrets form Jack Welch', but at the very least I hope that I have inspired you to build some of my top 5 into your daily work routine.
