Quite often people treat business more seriously, than other spheres of their life. However David Novak considers that not always people think of that how much they actually love their job, feel it with heart and soul and what they can achieve so that their business could grow by itself. He is a chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands - restaurant chain, which includes 38 thousand restaurants in 117 countries under the brands of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and is sure that we don't always understand that our success depends not only on us, but also on the people around us .So the most important thing in business is to be able to make the people follow you. Novak shared with the audience his knowledge of how to achieve active growth of the company, increasing to the maximum your leader's potential, learning to use your leadership skills, and the ability to unite people around you at the lecture, which took place in the building of 'RIA-Novosti' in Moscow in August, 2012 and the listener of which E-xecutive.ru was.
Don't become a Frightener for your subordinates
Once, at the meeting with Jack Welch, who was the General Manager in General Electric at that time, David Novak asked him what he would do if he returned in time when he'd just become the Head of the Corporation. Welch answered that he would have found a way to appeal to people whom he should lead. He would share with them his ideas on what kind of company he had wanted to build. So that they knew who he was, what he wanted to achieve, and realized that he needed them. Then, in the past, he hadn't done it, and just went straight to work. Taking into consideration that the time was difficult for the company: expenses on production, financial failures and, therefore layoffs - he became the 'Frightener' for his employees. People didn't understand and didn't know that all that Welch did, was for the company to become better.
Build your team of leaders, and the more it is - the better
In addition to the responsibilities of the CEO, Novak coaches managers of the Corporation according to the leadership program eight times a year around the world. David spends such a huge amount of time on his formula of success, which means that if you help a person to use all his potential, it will give a strong push to the development of the company itself. Because without purposeful, confident in themselves and in the company leaders you won't get satisfied customers, who increase the financial income of your company. The program consists of three training days, after which each participant has his own plan for leadership development - a program of personal achievement.
Cultivate your abilities. Always!
Ask yourself such questions as «What perceptions, habits and beliefs help us to grow up business? About what do the people, whom I want to follow me, think? What affects them and what is happening in their subconscious? How to show them our brand? What should I change and what to strengthen? » Also, remember that your worst problem at its solution can raise your company to unprecedented heights. Customers aren't always able to say what they want, but they are good at expressing their complaints and grievances. Take advantage of this, listen to what they lack.
When a person doesn't know to what extent they value him in the company - it's a tragedy.
Having the post of the Chief Operating Officer at PepsiCo, Novak often went to the 'field', met and communicated with representatives of warehouses. Once at a round table discussion with the driver-salesmen there appeared a question of merchandising. They represented him Bob and unanimously called him the best merchandiser they ever knew. Novak didn't expect that after these words Bob started to cry.
Why are you crying?
I have been working in this company for 47 years, in two weeks I'm going to retire, and I haven't known how people treat me so far, - said Bob.
David left the meeting with a heavy heart: « 'It was a tragedy. The man can do his job best of all, and doesn't know how much people appreciate him. «It’s extremely important to pay a tribute to the achievements that people have. They need a gratitude for what they have done. After all, in the world, and just in your company tens, hundreds, and sometimes thousands of these Bobs, whose merits were not recognized. This is a serious omission for business.
People leave their companies for two reasons:
- They don't get along with their boss. According to David, in his company people believe not in bosses, but in coaches. Good boss - is a coach, man number one in the organization.
- They don't feel gratitude for their work. That's why Novak spends so much energy on the recognition of his employees. There are people whom the company can't lose in any case.
Anna Soldatova, E-xecutive.ru
