We’ve heard a lot about the excesses of executive salaries and perks. But there are some firms that put employees first and the results are very favourable to the bottom line.Jack Eckerd, CEO of Eckerd Drug Stores, gives this advice to executives: Throw away the keys to the executive washroom. Let everyone eat in the same cafeteria and spend half your time with workers. This form of management has the unlikely name of Servant Leadership.
Remember what happens to an army out in the field. When it comes time to eat in the mess tent, the officers wait until the troops have been fed first. That’s servant leadership. Ken Westner, retired chairman of Service Master Corporation, built his multi-million dollar corporation on this very concept. Before he would assign anyone a job, he learned it himself. He went through training for every position in his company down to running a vacuum cleaner. He cared about his employees and looked out for their best interest.
When an executive puts his employees first, they do better work and are more loyal to the company. As a result, they are better able to give priority to the customer. The company grows, the profits multiply and everyone benefits. That’s what happens when leaders become servants to the people in their charge.
From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 20-July-2010
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