Welch's 21 Steps to Management Greatness - 5
Become As Informal As Possible
There is nothing more important to a company, as it relates to digging out ideas from our people or opening up communication than the depth of informality within a company.
When using training classes as an example, Welch said this: "You must realize now how important it is to maintain the kind of corporate informality that encourages a training class to comfortably challenge the boss's pet ideas."
If there is intimidation or the type of formality that discourages people from communicating, throwing out or challenging ideas, your company will be in a lot of trouble.
Many types of managers or business leaders think that if things are too informal, it could get a little unruly, and they're right! It should be that way to some degree. There should be a culture of anybody just about being able to say anything as far as it relates to immediate feedback and throwing out of their own ideas.
I'm not talking here about humiliating people or treating them poorly when I say they need to be unruly, I'm talking about people getting excitable and challenged and feeling free to throw things right out there with no thought that they're breaking some type of protocol.
The great business leaders are secure and aren't afraid to be challenged. If our ideas can't stand up under a challenge, then we don't need to be using them. Putting our ideas out there, or removing anything that can discourage our people from putting their ideas out there, should be a key component of the way any business does things.
There should be nothing we hold, other than the purpose and core values of the company that can't be moved or changed. Create the type of informality that encourages these types of interchanges, and you'll be surprised at what your people not only have to offer, but are willing to offer.
Other Jack Welch Resources:
Jack Welch's advice to MIT Sloan students
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