WHAT LEADERS MUST DO
When General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt speaks to aspiring leaders at the company's management development center, his message is straightforward, yet profound. Immelt, who replaced the legendary Jack Welch as head of one of the world's most powerful corporations, simply explains the 10 activities he believes are essential for good leadership—a list he calls "Things Leaders Do."
He recently shared this list with Fast Company's editor-in-chief, John A. Byrne. Here are a few highlights.
"Every leader needs to clearly explain the top three things the organization is working on," Immelt says. "If you can't, then you're not leading well."
"Leadership is an intense journey into yourself," he says. "You can use your own style to get anything done. It's about being self-aware. Every morning, I look in the mirror and say, 'I could have done three things better yesterday.'"
"I may know an answer, but I'll often let the team find its own way," Immelt explains. "Sometimes, being an active listener is much more effective than ending a meeting with me enumerating 17 actions."
"Good leaders are never afraid to intervene personally on things that are important," he says.