Leading Like Jack – What I learned from Jack Wech

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Leading as Jack – What I learned from Jack Welch

There is one figure that has always captured my attention: former GE CEO Jack Welch, who passed away last March. I have always looked at Jack Welch as the out-of-the-box leader, who does not follow traditional management and leadership models and who puts a personal stamp on every project and challenge that makes a difference at every stage.

This way of leading and being in life has always been a target of my interest and curiosity and that is why I have always followed his path through his interviews, articles, and published books. A brilliant career that inspires us all.

Many times in my long transatlantic journeys I have Jack Welch’s literature for the company and for each work and each article I have always drawn some teaching or some reflection, not least because his journey is in itself inspiring.

Jack Welch was born in Peabody in Massachusetts, had a happy childhood and adolescence, and with a special connection to his mother, has mentioned several times that she influenced him in a very positive way, convincing him that he could be whoever he wanted. “He convinced me that I could be anyone I wanted. It was all in my hands “You have to go to the fight, you used to tell me”. Words of the own when referring to the role that the mother had in her journey.

In-book quotes “Jack – What I learned from leading an exceptional company and exceptional people” from Editora Smartbook

Jack also stood out at the high school where he was captain of the ice hockey team in Salem, where he already predicted his predisposition for a leader. He studied at the University of Massachusetts and received a doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Illinois, having his professional career started at General Electric in 1960 and where he was the CEO and President between 1981 and 2001.

With a remarkable path and international recognition, he has always insisted on giving relevance to the mistakes made during his professional life and reflecting on what this taught him and how he led him to be more effective and more competent.

One of these episodes goes back to 1963 at GE’s plastics division in Pittsfield. The factory exploded and although the damage was only material, Jack decided to resign his director. However, his resignation was not accepted and he received positive reinforcement from the management, having been told that at that moment they already knew more than before and, therefore, he would already know what to do to not let the factory explode again. This episode was remarkable because it would ultimately determine his entire way of managing and leading as he applied this way of leading in all the projects and people he worked with. Removing from people what they have best to give the company or organization, always maintaining high self-esteem and recognition.

Jack Welch liked to talk to his employees and listen carefully. Listening and understanding the various perspectives, opinions, and realities of each of its employees was one of the keys to its success because it allowed it to develop ideas and strategies based on the experience, reality, and vision of each one applied to the good of all. He liked to surround himself with intelligent and charismatic people, with ideas different from his own and with whom he could debate with sincerity and straightforwardness, looking for the best solution and in his understanding to get close to perfection.

Jack Welch liked to talk to his employees and listen carefully. Listening and understanding the various perspectives, opinions, and realities of each of its employees was one of the keys to its success because it allowed it to develop ideas and strategies based on the experience, reality, and vision of each one applied to the good of all. He liked to surround himself with intelligent and charismatic people, with ideas different from his own and with whom he could debate with sincerity and straightforwardness, looking for the best solution and in his understanding to get close to perfection.

The pursuit of this perfection led GE to evolve and positively influenced other organizations. An example of this was the commitment to the 6 Sigma philosophy that helped to shape the company’s culture and the way in which employees’ skills were developed.

In addition to 6 Sigma, one of its major bets was the training of its employees. With the vision that training can make a difference in each one and consequently enhance the organization where they are located, Jack wanted GE to be a place of choice for its professionals and his strategy was to acquire and strengthen skills and knowledge by its employees.

Being a unique personality that leaves us many teachings and of which I highlight:

Integrity

“I was always transparent. They could always count on one thing – my honesty ”

The corporation and the community

“I believe that social responsibility starts with a robust and competitive company: only a robust company is capable of improving and enriching the lives of people and their communities.

Set an example

“I always tried to put myself in the shoes of the people I worked with. I wanted you to feel my presence ”

Maximize an organization’s intellect

“The first step is to be open to the best that people have to offer, wherever they go”

First people, then strategy

“We learned at our expense that, even with the best strategies in the world, if we don’t have the right leaders to develop and implement them, we are left with only beautiful presentations and mediocre results.”

Informality

“Bureaucracy suffocates; informality frees. ”

Self-confidence

“The line that separates arrogance from self-confidence” … “Never let yourself be who you are for a job or an institution”

Passion

“Over the years I have always been looking for this quality in the leaders we have been selecting. Passion is not about showing off or being excessive – it’s something that comes from within. ”

Competition

My advice is: never underestimate your competitors ”

Initiatives vs tactics

“Understanding the difference between a permanent change and a temporary solution helps the organization to stay focused

Communicator

“When I had an idea or a message and wanted to get it out at GE, I was constantly enunciating. “

Employee surveys

“Knowing – and confronting – what was on the minds of our employees was fundamental to our success.”

Dive

“From these“ head dives ”came some of our best decisions.

Essentially, it overturned the concept of hierarchy. Everyone knew they were the same at the table and that they could give their ideas informally and sincerely. ”

In-book quotes “Jack – What I learned from leading an exceptional company and exceptional people” from Editora Smartbook

At this stage and never like any other, good leaders can and should make a difference by betting on their employees and allowing each of them to also make a path of quality and recognition. Leading how Jack transports us to a paradigm that many have learned to grasp, but that others still don’t understand. Leading as an example is indeed inspiring, it helps organizations to improve and consequently societies make progress in the right direction!

Inspired article with quotes in Book “Jack – What I learned when leading an exceptional company and exceptional people” from Editora Smartbook.

Author of the article

Cláudio Masi

Insignis West CEO