My Leadership Philosophy, by Dan Clark
Shaw Industries
Although I have written this as advice to my team, these are also the standards I have for myself.
Hire good people and give them the freedom and guidance so they can do their job.
For my business I focus on executing and actually completing a small number of initiatives at any one time. Once one is done then you should go to the next one.
Do not hire people with fatal flaws; you cannot fix them.
Develop your replacement(s).
Publicize the success and capabilities of your people; help them get promoted even if it means losing them because in that culture you will attract good people.
Do not encourage sycophants and suck ups.
Get out of your office and see first-hand what is happening; otherwise everything you receive will be filtered.
Encourage your people to think innovatively, accept the reward and risk inherent in this approach and do not beat up people or publicly embarrass them for a failure.
Do not make that many decisions; only make the decisions commensurate with your position.
Do not surprise people with bad news.
Learn how to say “Thank you” and “I do not know” and “What do you think we should do?”
Nobody likes a drunk, whether it is you who is the drunk or your people.
Know about your people’s personal lives, interests, activities and aspirations. Talk about this stuff with them regularly.
Respect peoples’ time.
Be candid and encourage candor from your people. How else will you know if you are screwing up?
Do not speak so that you are understood; speak so that you are not misunderstood.
Take pride in your appearance – clean clothes that fit, polished shoes, be well-groomed.
Turn off your cell phone and Blackberry.
Have balance in your personal life and give back to the community.
Develop a peer network.
