Leadership and the Welch Way: Summary
Jack Welch, a former leader of CEO General Electric and one of the most successful businessmen in the world, is interviewed by Bill Donoghue. Mr. Welsh is a creator of the so-called Welsh way that is, in fact, specific educational courses. The man answers the question about his attitude towards the peculiarities of leadership, his approach to the organization of employees’ work, as well as tells about the most significant values that should be observed by companies’ leaders.
Bill Donoghue calls Mr. Welsh a rock star as this person is well-known around the world for his enormous contribution to the business. Answering the questions, the man says that he likes seeing employees grow, and, according to him, an experienced leader should give people a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Mr. Welsh claims that one of the critical challenges of leadership is as follows: how many people have you made better? He says that business is a game, there are winners and losers, and the Welsh way is created to help people understand the best strategies to avoid any possible loss.
Also, Jack Welch says that candor is essential; it leads to speed that contributes to a particular company’s growth. Companies should not have secrets from employees, as Mr. Welsh remarks, and the role of HRs is leading in this case. When answering the question about the fundamental features of leaders, the man notes that the typical behaviors of winners are positive energy, excitement, and curiosity, and the task of management is to create this atmosphere. At the end of the interview, the businessman admits that there is no life-work balance; there are life-work choices, and a person has to solve what goals he or she wants to achieve to be a winner.