Thursday, January 10, 2013

In last Saturday's NY Times, there was interview with G.J. Hart, CEO of California Pizza Kitchen wherein he described his "Six Steps to Leadership (plus Courage)"

He said he is guided by these six steps all surrounded by courage:

1. The first step is to be the very best that you can be, because you can't lead anybody if you can't lead yourself.
2. The second thing is to dream ... and dream big. What's the world of possibilities for yourself and for your organization? You have to be able to say, "Here's where I want to get to."
3. The third is to lead with your heart first. Let people see that you're human and that there's a human side. Show people that you have compassion.
4. The fourth thing can be the hardest for young leaders: to trust the people you lead. It's about letting go and allowing people to grow into leadership roles.
5. The fifth is to do the right thing, always. It's easy to say, but the way I like to describe it is that if the rules say one thing, particularly as it relates to people, and you genuinely believe in that person, sometimes it takes courage to do the right thing and give that person a second chance.
6. The sixth is that it's ultimately about serving the people you lead. It's about putting the cause before yourself, and a willingness to see it through.

You can read the full interview here and it's worth it. A refreshing reminder that our best company leaders are not heartless, soulless pawns to stockholders but can blend the need to drive profitability with being human. You can too!