Alan Mulally
Ford Motor Company, Former CEO
How to work together
Today’s guest is Alan Mulally, who served as the CEO of Ford during their incredible turnaround.
And when we say served as the CEO, we mean it!
That’s because, in Alan’s words, to serve is to live.
And it’s not just a warm-fuzzy philosophy.
His service-centered style of leadership really gets results. It’s how he motivates people to actually work together.
And it’s how he led Ford through one most extraordinary turnarounds – from operating at a $17 billion loss to making $9 billion in profit … in just two years!
So if you want to learn how to get people working together, then you’re going to LOVE all the incredible insights and stories Alan shares in this episode.
You’ll also learn:
- Alan’s #1 piece of advice for anyone in a turnaround situation
- A practical way to stay attuned to the reality of your business
- One unexpected question to add to your next employee survey
- The surprising shift leaders of the future need to make (and how to do it)
- How to reframe issues in your company in a way that unlocks teamwork
- The common mistake leaders make when a team member brings up an issue
- A paradigm-shifting way to think about “work-life balance”
Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:
The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go
Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day
Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.
More from Alan Mulally
Deal with reality
Define reality for your business and understand how that reality will affect your plans. Continually report on trends happening in the world around you so your entire team is aware of what could impact your business.
Say less in meetings if you want an empowered team
Instead of jumping in with explanations and advice during meetings, ask questions. That’s how you get your team engaged and ready to take ownership of big problems.
Design products around what people want and value
It’s easy to let “feature creep” drive product conversations. But if you want strong sales, stay focused on what your customers’ priorities are.
See your life through a lens of service
Life is all about serving others. Embrace it! Always be on the lookout for ways to help others and support the greater good.
Successful cultures are built on love, respect, and transparency
Love in the workplace? It sounds strange, but you won’t have a strong team or a healthy culture without trust, affection, honesty, and respect.
The building blocks of great leadership
At its core, leadership is simple: bring people together with a clear plan, and make it about serving something bigger than yourself.
Expect the unexpected—and expect to deal with it
Instead of hoping things stay the same, assume they won’t. When change comes (not if!), focus on how to respond and move forward.
Clips
| Clip | Leader | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| The building blocks of great leadership | Alan Mulally | 0:49 |
| Design products around what people want and value | Alan Mulally | 1:32 |
| Use a business plan review process to assess reality | Alan Mulally | 2:06 |
| Successful cultures are built on love, respect, and transparency | Alan Mulally | 1:04 |
| Say less in meetings if you want an empowered team | Alan Mulally | 2:09 |
| See your life through a lens of service | Alan Mulally | 1:03 |
| Expect the unexpected—and expect to deal with it | Alan Mulally | 1:39 |
| The power of a single, company-wide plan | Alan Mulally | 1:15 |