10 Leadership Secrets From Jack Welch

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Great leaders never stop learning. As a leader, if you want your people to keep growing, you must never stop learning.

Because your people are not going to grow if you are not learning. Your organization is not going to grow if your people are not learning. And your customers are not going to be happy if your people are not growing.

To fix that, according to Jack Welch, ‘At the heart of this culture is an understanding that an organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive business advantage.’

‘Find great ideas, exaggerate them, and spread them like hell around the business with the speed of light.’

‘What we are looking for … are … leaders who can energize, excite, and control rather than enervate, depress, and control.’

‘The only way to change people’s minds is with consistency.’

‘The operative assumption today is that someone, somewhere, has a better idea.’

Every layer is a bad layer. The world is moving at such a pace that control has become a limitation. It slows you down.’

‘Speed is the product of an open organization.’

You’ve got to balance freedom with some control, but you’ve got to have more freedom than you’ve ever dreamed of.’

‘Those who actually did the work … had some striking ideas on how things could be done better.’

Quality is the next act of productivity.’

Source:

Robert Slater (1999). Jack Welch and the GE Way: Management Insights and Leadership Secrets of the Legendary CEO

Why Managing Others Is Not Easy

‘Management is not your passion; your real job is.’

‘Managing is the high-wire act of balancing useful guidance and getting out of the way.’

‘Management is about communication, rapport, morale, and productivity.’

‘Thinkers lead with their heads; feelers lead with their hearts.’

‘It is important to care about your staff, to show them you really like them as possible. You’ll also feel better about yourself by demonstrating your warmth toward others.’

‘The only way you can aspire to managerial greatness is by channeling yourself.’

Your sole areas of direct responsibility are your thoughts, your words, and your actions.’

‘Nearly always, when we attribute a belief or opinion to someone else it means we have it ourselves.’

‘People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.’

Lead with questions. And listen to the person giving the answers. You’ve always lost if you think you know the answers.’

There’s always another choice.’

Source:

Devora Zack (2012). Managing for People Who Hate Managing: Be a Success By Being Yourself