In the early 2000’s I was working as an Operations Manager for Rogers Corporation. It was my first management assignment and, as an engineer, I was struggling with the people aspect of the job. I had to lead a team of engineers and operators in a whole new manufacturing environment and I wasn’t sure whether I was pulling the right strings and pushing the right buttons. I was experimenting.
One day Walt Boomer, Chairman, and CEO of Rogers Corporation, came to visit our plant in Belgium. Before his business career, Walt had been a four-star general in the US Army, leading all Marines in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Gulf War. He was an authority on leadership. And he had tons of charisma.
That day, Walt inspired our management team by explaining his vision of leadership. The following five rules never left my memory.
Communicate
As a leader, you constantly need to communicate with your team to make sure you keep having the same focus, the same direction, and the same vision, … this is a two-way process: you communicate but you listen as well. And you reflect on what you hear.
Care for your people
Delivering results as a team is harsh. We all need to work together. We all need to care for each other, and as a leader, you need to care for the whole team.
Know your job
This may sound evident, but it isn’t. You need to know what you’re doing. You need to have the right skills to do your job. You can’t rely on others when it’s your turn to handle.
Set the example
Walk your talk. Do what you want your team is doing. Whatever you do, or don’t do, and how you do it, sends a signal. And this should be in sync with what you are saying.
Be a person of your word
Authenticity is key. Be yourself. Be consistent. And stay honest with yourself, your team, and your values, especially when times get tough.
The world around us and the business environment in particular changes at an ever-increasing speed: globalization, new technologies, disruptive business models, digital transformation … The future is unclear, except that tomorrow will be different than today. At this pivotal moment in time, leadership is even more important than before.
For those who lead, I find these five rules to be time-independent. They are easy to remember, easy to understand, and hands-on, but challenging to live and lead by.
Inspired by Walt Boomer.