Galvanizing Gucci
Every now and again Fortune Magazine features an unusual business leader who consciously, or not, understands how to enable energy to flow in an organisation. Robert Polet, the CEO of Gucci, is proving the fundamental relationship between energy and effectiveness and is harnessing the potential of the exponential to double the size of the business and grow its profits significantly faster than sales.
But, at the same time, he is living fully with an admirable balance between his work and his family.
He tries to leave his office by early evening and switches off his mobile phone and Blackberry on Friday night and doesn’t turn them back on until Monday. On vacation he refuses to be disturbed.
Polet himself calls his hands off management approach “the art of letting go” – an admirable philosophy for leaders …… and parents!
Ask him about his performance and he replies, “I hit the ground running because 80% of what I am doing is the same as I have always done – it’s about leading and coaching people”.
His approach to getting the most out of his people confirms what we try to teach at Learning To Lead. It is so encouraging to find real working examples of a new kind of global business leader.
The article appeared in the January 21st 2008 edition of Fortune Magazine. It is worth reading.
COLIN HALL
Cell phone: 082 568 7887
Email: colinH@LTL.co.za
19 March 2008
