Jan 23 07
What the best companies know
By Renn Vara
Hanging around with corporate leaders for almost 20 years gives you a perspective, if not one hell of a view. We’ve been privileged to be privy to the driving forces behind a number of great companies. Fortune 500’s list of the “100 Best Companies To Work For” featured three of our customers in the Top 11, and that got me to thinking …
Names like Oracle, Cisco, Google, Network Appliance, Microsoft, Juniper, Sun Microsystems, come to mind. Of course they all make great products, backed by strong marketing and solid financials. But what a lot of lesser companies don’t know is how they consistently motivate their people to excellence. You might call it the “secret sauce.” From our experience as an executive communications vendor, here are some of the common ingredients that drive great companies:
- Their leaders respect open communication.
- They’re not afraid of bad news.
- They are afraid of no news.
- They create environments where people feel free to express opinions and make suggestions.
- They encourage innovation in both product and words.
- Employees are rewarded for taking responsible risks.
- Gate keepers are kept to a minimum.
- They answer their own email.
- They are open to new ideas and concepts.
- They have strong views but aren’t afraid to have them challenged.
- They can defend their point of view.
- They believe.
Just like us, they are human and not always able to live up to their truths. But they do respect the ideals they represent. They are believers by choice. Meaning they’re smart enough to know the downside, the sometimes disingenuousness of their cause, and the gaps in truth that often challenges true believers. But because these leaders choose to believe, they represent their companies with the flexibility needed to bridge those questionable moments with grace and finesse. Some would say they are good talkers, which is true. But mainly they are visionaries on both the small and large scale. And their people know it. They walk the walk, and talk the talk. And at the base of it all is strong communication skills.
From our experience coaching, training, and producing a wide range of communication products and services, here’s what all great leaders do in order to stay on top and continually motivate their people:
- They never stop learning.
- Continual training and education is essential.
- They know more than the parochial nature of their business.
- They surround themselves with smart, challenging people.
- In the end, they are interested.
Learning is the key. Listening is the tool. And communication is the vehicle for truth, candor, and the life blood of the true believer. So the next time you find yourself in the presence of a great corporate leader, ask them — why do you do what you do? Don’t be surprised to hear a spot of idealism, a smidgen of mysticism and a heavy dose of good ole down-home wisdom. It may sound a little like religion but at its base it is the foundation of good business .. it’s the secret sauce.
