"What I have learned" from Lee Scott, President and CEO of Wal-Mart
Posted: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
by Paul S Umstead
Char's eBay Gift Emporium
As a Human Resources Manager for over twenty years and most recently a small business owner, I have always been interested in management philosophy and practice. Recently I ran across an article published in "Wal-Mart World" that was written by Lee Scott, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The article was only one page but contained a list of management phrases that I felt were specifically compelling and relevant to new and seasoned managers. I would like to share these thoughts with you in hopes that they might help provide thought provoking application to the often elusive and frustrating art of managing your single most valuable asset, human resources.
- Hire people better than yourself.
- Ego is the greatest enemy of leadership.
- Most of what you say the first time will be misunderstood or ignored.
- When people know what you want, they will give it to you.
- Having good intentions does not guarantee forgiveness.
- The ability to give honest, constructive feedback is a rare talent.
- Very few people ever feel they are on top of things. There is an underlying fear of failure.
- Integrity is the single most important characteristic of a leader.
- Sharing praise is a compromise. Give it all away.
- What you say and how you say it is not really as important as what is heard and how it is heard.
- Even though you feel strongly about something, there is a possibility you could be wrong.
- Your harshest critics may be the most helpful voices you hear.
- There is a cost to being special; most people are not willing to pay that price.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Paul, thanks to you and Lee Scott for sharing. This is great 'stuff' to help in any HR situation. My "wow's" were audible as I read the profound lessons learned. I will incorporate them in my daily thinking, as well.
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