Inspiration and Stories of Change
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Gap CEO Richard Dickson is transforming the company through focused brand identity, streamlined operations, and transparent communication
Everything from store layout to staffing decisions serves the company's strategy of selling more memberships.
In seven years, Abercrombie went from "most hated retailer" to outperforming NVIDIA
A new CEO accelerated change by flattening the hierarchy and connecting employees to what it means to drive a Ferrari
Organizations need a beckoning frontier, not just to discover new business models and revenue streams, but to renew the human spirit and fend off the crush of uncertainty.
Leading a corporate turnaround at a company as large as Microsoft is a daunting challenge, but CEO Nadella focused on culture and innovation to return it to dominance
Amazon's unique annual planning process incentivizes leaders and teams to think big while supporting cross-divisional goals
When corporate bureaucracy slows innovation, it takes unorthodox measures to break through. A secret offsite gave eBay's team the focus they needed to develop a new solution.
When an organization enters a hibernation period where innovation slows and bureaucracy mounts, renegades can shake everyone out of complacency.
If you’re looking for ways to show you value your employees, share important information on a regular basis. To further increase transparency, give employees access to upper management and encourage them to ask questions.
If you think your company’s complexity and bureaucracy can’t be overcome because of its size and scale, think again. GE’s FastWorks program shows that a giant, too, can simplify and streamline their operations to increase speed and encourage innovation.
As more organizations understand culture as the competitive tool it is, they're openly sharing "culture decks" or employee handbooks to attract like-minded employees and customers.
While you may not have $35 million for your team's development, the Starbucks Leadership Lab demonstrates how creative training opportunities can inspire people while reinforcing the company mission. Brainstorm simple ideas that encourage managers to better serve customers and allow employees to work as strategic thought partners at the local level.
When your team sits down to make decisions, always first ask yourselves whether the decision can be reversed. This will determine the appropriate level of caution for the situation at hand.
Prioritize creating a safe environment for your team to get the best results from them. Monitor personal interactions and chat with team members (or collect anonymous surveys, if necessary) to gauge the overall level of trust and comfort.
Everyone likes to point to Steve Jobs’ return to Apple as proof that company turnarounds can be wildly successful. In fact, Yahoo!’s beleaguered CEO, Marissa Mayer, has mentioned it to employees as a reminder that even the best turnarounds take time. But now that activist investor Starboard Capital has gained seats on the board, time’s up—it’s increasingly likely that Yahoo! will be sold, and Mayer removed as CEO.