What do you as a boss, when you find out that not one, but a number of employees have blatantly gone against the company’s set policies and done something that costs the company? Maybe you’re already getting upset just reading about it. Usually, a CEO will think of firing the employees, or at least putting them on a serious warning to comply or exit.
But, if you’re a resourceful LEADER, not only a boss, you think about your company as well as enriching your employees. You give them the benefit of the doubt. You tell them you know that they are working hard and have done a great job in contributing to your company’s success. But you don’t stop there. You then guide them, firmly but assertively, on how things are done in the company, with no compromise.
Here is a letter that was written by Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk that is a golden example of why he is who he is and what makes his one of the top innovative companies in the world. Here is a man looking at the solution that eliminates the problem entirely.
What did you learn from the letter?
- He begins by praising his employees. The said employees know very well that they are about to be corrected, but this is not their mother correcting them for bad behavior. This is their leader, who doesn’t deny the fact that they are working hard. In his groundbreaking book, How To Win Friends And Influence People, Dale Carnegie says you should always be the first to “lavish praise”.
- Next, he doesn’t mince words when it comes to the company’s policies. He stresses on words like, “never”, “no” and lays it down straight. As the leader of your company, you need to know your own policies and check facts and figures “personally”. That is showing interest in what you do, and your employees will do the same.
- He apologizes! Which boss has ever said sorry for a muck-up by an employee?! And who ever says they are “grateful” for their employees? Well, Elon Musk does. It really makes you want to confess your wrongdoings and “sin no more”.
- When talking about Tesla, look at the positive, affirmative words he uses. This is a guy who deeply believes in his product, has faith in his employees and knows that what he puts out is simply the best. He says words like: integrity, absolute certainty, always trust, right thing.
There is something to be learnt from a man like Elon Musk. A leader who imparts leadership, truly.
