Welch sat on no outside corporate boards and devoted virtually all his energy to running GE.
The really great business leaders and managers live for their companies, as far as it being the sole professional focus they have.
Jack Welch was no different, and he refused while running General Electric (NYSE:GE) to get distracted with anything that took away from his focus on making the company even more excellent than it was.
This is extremely important because today there is a growing tendency to get distracted and addicted to all sorts of business "connections" which have no value other than to say you have them.
We must measure the value of a business connection and relationship as it relates to our company and its vision. If it isn't something that will add value to our business, there's no reason to professionally have it. It becomes a distraction and work which won't make a difference, and could hurt the company by drawing our focus and energy elsewhere.
If we want running buddies and friends, let it happen outside the work day and business, not within the business framework.
Some might think this sounds cold, or possibly cruel, but it isn't. I've seen many times over the years people that tried to please others who took up their valuable time lose what they had because they couldn't or wouldn't say "no". We can't afford that luxury.
Jack Welch would have none of it, and his results speak for itself.
One thing that will never change over they years will be the success of business leaders who zero in on their business or businesses and refuse to be moved off their utter commitment to its success. Those who are absolute experts in their field of endeavor will outperform those who divide their attention among fragmented business interests.
Other Jack Welch Resources:
Jack Welch's advice to MIT Sloan students
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