The Welch Way

The Welch Way

(From The Welch Way, The Empolyee Handbook for Enhancing Corporate Performance, by Jeffrey A. Krames, published by Tata McGraw Hill)

Lead
-Articulate a vision, and spark others to execute it.
- Don’t manage every excruciating detail.
- Involve everyone and welcome great ideas from everywhere.

Get Less Formal
- Brainstorm with colleagues and bosses
- Hold more informal meetings
- Consider a once-in-a-while informal get together

Blow up bureaucracy
- Drop unnecessary work
- Work with colleagues to streamline decision making
- Make your workplace more informal

Face reality
- Look at things with a fresh eye
- Don’t fall into the ‘false scenarios’ trap.
- Leave yourself with several options

Simplify
- Simplify the workplace.
- Make meetings simpler.
- Eliminate complicated memos and letters.

See change as an opportunity
- Know that change is here to stay.
- Expect the least expected, but move quickly to stay a step ahead.
- Prepare those around you for the inevitable change that will affect their lives.

Lead by energizing others
- Never lead by intimidation.
- Let others know exactly how their efforts are helping the organization.
- Send handwritten thank-you notes to colleagues and customers.

Defy tradition
- Hold a “why do we do it that way?” meeting.
- Invite colleagues from your department to contribute one idea on changing something important at the company.
- Don’t be afraid to buck conventional wisdom.

Make intellect rule
- Spend an hour per week learning what competitors are doing.
- Offer a reward for the best idea.
- Work for organizations committed to training and learning.

Pounce every day
- Live urgency
- Make decisions faster
- Work harder

Put values first
- Don’t harp on numbers.
- Lead by example.
- Let values rule.

Manage less
- Don’t get bogged down in meaningless details.
- Manage less
- Empower, delegate, get out of the way.

Involve everyone
- Participate more
- Make sure everyone feels free to speak out.
- Suggest an informal brainstorming session.

Rewrite your agenda
- Do not plan years ahead.
- Develop alternative plans and options.
- Expect the unexpected.

Live speed
- Don’t “sit” on decisions.
- Communicate faster.
- Incorporate speed into every activity/process.

Instill confidence
- Let people know that you value their ideas.
- Simplify the workplace.
- Focus on training.

Set stretch goals
- Reach for the unreachable.
- Forget decimal points.
- Don’t punish yourself – or anyone else – for falling short of a stretch goal.

Eliminate the boundaries
- Seek out new ideas from everyone.
- Be sure to look outside the company for good ideas.
- Never stop eliminating boundaries.

Articulate a vision
- Write down the vision.
- Avoid the minutiae.
- Hire and promote those most capable of turning visions into reality.

Get good ideas from everywhere
- Don’t think you or your company have all the answers.
- Study competitors.
- Make sure everyone around you knows that you are interested in all ideas, regardless of where they come from.

Spark others to perform
- Never bully or intimidate.
- Make sure to use all the intellect.
- Make sure everyone knows that the best idea wins.

Quality is your job
- Take great pride in your work.
- Seek out quality training
- Never think that quality is someone else’s job.

Change never ends
- Face reality and know that change is here for good.
- Suggest an informal “change meeting”.
- Think short-term and long-term change.

Have fun
- Make informality a way of life
- Find a job that challenges you.
- Don’t stay in the same job forever.