Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

"The fact that I cannot possibly know everything that goes on in our operation ... is a source of competitive advantage."

We talked about communication recently in reference to another great manager Sam Walton. His conclusion was that sharing information with you people was far greater for the company and offsets any information that competitors may get hold of as a result.

Herb Kelleher understood this as well and said this about it: "In an organization like ours, you're also likely to be a step behind the employees. The fact that I cannot possibly know everything that goes on in our operation - and don't pretend to - is a source of competitive advantage."

What he's saying is that when a people are released to go about their jobs, it doesn't matter what their competitors search out or find out about them. Communication is a living thing that cannot be caught up with, packaged and copied.

Why can't it be caught up with, packaged and copied? Here's the secret: Action always happens before communication. Communication comes about from taking action, observation, and then talking about the results and adaptations that need to go forward from the effort. If you're competitors are just hearing about what's going on, they're already way behind those they're hearing it from.

In a business culture that has this type of openness, you can never catch up to them as the constant, open communication comes about from the endless activity that is going on from moment to moment within. Changes and solutions can have already been implemented while competitors are wondering about what you've already decided is not the way you're going.

Kellerher never tried to get his mind and authority wrapped around the people and initiatives going on around him. He knew that if he tried, it would destroy the very culture that he built in Southwest Airlines (LUV).

Other Herb Kelleher Sources:

Special Event

Leadership: The Essential Herb Kelleher

The CEO as Brand Guardian

Herb's way

Speeches and Presentations from Southwest Leaders

Southwest Airlines: The Hottest Thing in the Sky

Have Fun, Make Money

Remember to Sign up for my feed, bizzbite and digg this!