Mary Barra, chief executive of General Motors, is straightforward. Having lived through corporate bankruptcy and restructuring, she knows what managing culture is like. As a lifelong GM employee, she knew she had to change it. She started with the dress code that, when enforced, empowers managers to do what they think is right for the company. It’s a strong lesson from which all of us can learn. It took two words – “dress appropriately.”
Source: Quartz at Work, April 3, 2018. Link.
But if you let people own policies themselves – especially at the first level of people supervision – it helps develop them. It was an eye-opening experience, but I now know that these small little things changed our culture powerfully. They weren’t the only factor, but they contributed significantly.
INSIGHTS: While a lifetime employee, Barra takes nothing for granted. This small, yet significant, release of power can do wonders for daily routines and long-term productivity. Like most animal health pros, she dresses appropriately, too.