I’ve been a frequent flyer since 1991. Started at the back of the plane, progressed forward and ended up ‘Chairman’s Lounge’ up front.
Now off the treadmill, I’m back down the back where I started, albeit ‘Lifetime Gold’, a ‘happy camper’.
Looking around, one wonders, where are the airline executives and board members? Do they ever travel back here and ‘eat their own dog food’?
Leaders understand how things are by being where their teams and customers are. Business Class and Chairman’s Lounge are fine but they are not the real world.
It wasn’t until Churchill travelled in a regular London train and talked to the people that he realised that his people “would never surrender”. Based on that he was able to drive on and the rest is history.
If you’re a leader, not just an ‘Executive’, get out of your swanky surrounds, experience what your customers and teams experience as their ‘normal’ and “eat your own dog food”.
#leadership #management #boardmembers
