7
MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
from my podcast with
Garry Ridge, CEO of WD-40 Company
Please listen here ->
Garry's Insight
My Reflections
Clarity of Vision
Garry is passionate about "creating a place where people go to work everyday, contribute to something bigger than themselves, they learn something new, they feel safe and thay go home happy."
Role-Modelling
Servant
Leadership
1
What impresses me the most with Garry is his authenticity, his congruence (his energy gives exactly the same message in person) & his genuine belief that WD-40s performance would not be anywhere near as good without their intentional people-focus.
Cultural Freedom
Garry shared an incredibly insightful comment about WD-40s culture in that "we have to create a culture that sets people free, but also that gives them the guard-rails to keep them safe."
Structure Creates Freedom
Cultural
Awareness
There can be a fear that freedom leads to chaos, but as Garry evidences and as David Marquet shared with me on ep 7 of the podcast, structure creates freedom. Clarity & transparency are key to enabling 'healthy' freedom in my experience to date.
2
Long-Term Growth
Garry shared that WD-40s "compounded annual growth rate of annual shareholder return over the past 10 years has been 20% & in the 5 years it has been 27%."
Short-Termism
Exceptional Performance
The prevailing short-termist model is still rife, but what Garry role-models impressively is that corporations can be publicly traded AND human-centred in their approach. I am excited in my own way to help leaders & teams step into that optimal balance.
3
Vulnerability
Garry shared that the 3 most powerful words I have ever learned in my life are 'I Don't Know.' Also Garry powerfully advised "vulnerability does not mean weakness."
Huge Opportunity
Vulnerability as a Strength
I am exceptionally enthusiastic about helping individuals & leaders develop their vulnerability muscle as the benefits to themselves, at home & at work, & those in their care at work can be transformative as per my own experience
4
Leadership Choice
Garry advises "we as leaders have more opportunity than ever before to change the world." adding "We get up every day & create environments where we can have people go home happy or not go home happy."
Are you ready?
Accountability
Learning from Garry as I also have listening to the likes of Bob Chapman & other exceptional human-centred leaders, the impact that we have as leaders goes well beyond the day job - Do you & we always appreciate that? Does that matter to you?
5
Consciously
Incompetent
Garry, unlike any other CEO I have heard before, states clearly & openly that he is "consciously incompetent." WD-40 is a learning organisation as evidenced by their 'learning moments' rather than mistakes
"Learn Every Day"
Continuous Learning
I feel that many organisations & therefore their leaders, lack the ability and/or desire to make environments safe to own up to mistakes, to challenge the status quo & to fuel continuous learning. What is it like where you work?
6
Challenging Beliefs
Garry advised to "notice your beliefs - a belief is a thought you trust to be true." "Curiosity is about questioning yourself why do I believe this to be true, because sometimes facts are just how you see things."
Deep Listening
Believe in Curiosity
There is a whole other podcast in just these succinct points of Garry's, but key here for me is realising that our unique realities are all thought-created in the moment. Empathetic, deep listening to self & others is critical.
7
1st-3rd key takeaways (60 secs) - Audio with subtitles
Accessible Learning Takeaways
4th-6th key takeaways (60 secs) - Audio with subtitles
Over the past 2 years since learning about WD-40s work under Garry's leadership and after joining multiple WorldBlu events (thanks Perry Timms), I have personally taken away and implemented a range of changes in my own practice and working with others including:
- The importance of role-modeling, especially leading with vulnerability
- The use of cohesive, tribal language
- The power in truly living, breathing & reflecting on core values
- Making your culture safe to challenge, to make mistakes and to build empowerment / ownership in all
The impact of this podcast & learning through Garry's leadership of WD-40
1st 3 key takeaways - Audio with subtitles
1st-3rd key takeaways - Audio with subtitles
Seek the input from those doing the job at the coalface, more often
Untapped innovation & reductions in opportunity costs are waiting for you
Create a range of experiments. Test new ways of working. Test new ways of communicating. Test new ways of building relationships. Allow your people to lead and own these experiments
Project & communicate with absolute clarity and ideally, with transparency. Remember the workplace is full of adults who seek to contribute on an adult-adult basis
3
KEY SHIFTS TO UNLEASH YOUR PEOPLES POTENTIAL
CONTACT ME
Garry Turner
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