Welch called for developing a corporate culture that encourages and rewards honest feedback.
One of the major accomplishments of Jack Welch when he led General Electric (GE), was his remarkable ability to communicate and get others to communicate in such a huge company.
Welch considered the absence of candor as one of the major obstacles to the success of any company. He said, "In a bureaucracy, people are afraid to speak out. This type of environment slows you down, and it doesn't improve the workplace."
If nothing else, Jack Welch communicated and set an example of candor, and those throughout the company responded accordingly.
Without candor and input from your people, a company will struggle to reach success, as it's there that the majority of great ideas come to a company.
So even if you have open communication, and things in place to make it happen, if the ideas aren't of the highest quality, that open communication would only serve to spread and proliferate bad ideas and concepts throughout the company.
How do you get your people to practice candor? Along with setting the example up front, Welch offered, "You reinforce the behaviors that you reward. If you reward candor, you'll get it."
It's as simple as that. Practice and reward candor, and you'll be able to tap the great ideas your people have to make the company even a greater one. It's one of the secrets of General Electric and Jack Welch over the decades.
Other Jack Welch Resources:
Jack Welch's advice to MIT Sloan students
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