This week’s focus on Part 6 of Leaders Eat Last revolves around company culture and how leaders can shift the dynamic. Read along to see how Optus employees reacted to Part 6.
TAKEAWAYS
Part 6 focuses on how leaders have the ability to change company culture one small step at a time. A leader must be willing to lead by example in order for others to buy in and follow. Trusting people and giving authority to those closest to the information are key components in shifting a company’s culture.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- “We never throw an idea away.”
- “Innovation is the result of a corporate culture of collaboration and sharing.”
- “When we are disconnected from the people with whom we work, we spend more time focused on our own needs than the needs of the people for whom we’re supposed to be responsible”
- “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.”
- “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”
- “Building trust requires nothing more than telling the truth.”
DAY-TO-DAY
Our employees had a lot of great ideas for how they could implement ideas from Part 6 into their day-to-day lives.
- With school age children, it is easier to do chores and work for them–it is definitely faster. I need to be cognizant to act at home like I do at work because “Leaders are to provide direction and intent and allow other to figure out what to do and how to get there.”
- Think about long-term goals instead of the quick return. At home or at work. Enable people to do what they know is right, and expect it.
- Share my knowledge and ask for advice from knowledgeable leaders when needed.
- I’m a big proponent of collaboration and brain storms. I believe the best ideas come from a mashup of multiple ideas. I can work on inviting others outside my direct circle into brainstorms and collaboration sessions to get fresh ideas for campaigns and collateral pieces.
- I think empathy and actually getting to know someone you disagree with are things that aren’t valued as much as they should be. It is easy to be less empathetic to someone we disagree with. Chapter 20, Friends Matter, talks about cooperation vs. fighting. Sometimes it is easy to not put as much effort into a relationship (or completely close someone out) whether it be personally or professionally if we disagree with them. Instead of working together, we work to protect ourselves or our own ideas.
LEAD THE WAY
Being a leader means more than being in a management position. Leadership can take many forms, whether at work or at home. Some great ideas for how to improve your leadership skills from Part 6 include:
- As a leader you must sell your vision.
- Give authority to the ones closest to the information.
- Lead by example. The example we set trickles down and sets the tone for what is acceptable. Before I respond to a situation, I should think what impact my actions will make on the decision making process of others. What kind of culture will my decisions promote?
- Be a servant leader.
- Be open to sharing my mistakes among the team.
- Understand each individual better and how they interpret their role in the company.
- Model the behaviors and the atmosphere that I want to see and feel.
SUM IT UP
- Leaders have integrity
- Lead by example
- Value your people
- Honesty, best policy
- Culture ultimately wins
We hope you join us next week for Part 7: A Society of Addicts.