Since taking over as CEO of GE, Jeffrey R. Immelt has been voted the "World's Best CEO" three times by Barron's, the leading American financial magazine ". After handing over the "baton" to GE's new CEO, John Flannery, the CEO of GE, was named "World's Best CEO" three times. The day before handing over the "baton" to GE's new CEO, John Flannery, Jeff Immelt posted on LinkedIn that he was "the best CEO in the world". Immelt wrote 10 parting words on his LinkedIn blog to his successor and GE employees:
One, set a high standard of goals
You must always look to the future, have a vision, set high standards, so that employees have the courage to take responsibility for the honor of even the most difficult to fight for. "Always pay attention" to every minute of every day, respect and motivate others; compete and always focus on what matters most.
Two: Make the really tough decisions
Many decisions are things no one wants to do, such as: cutting the dividend, selling NBCUniversal, acquiring Alstom, and so on. But as a CEO, you can't be afraid to make decisions or criticize them. Remember, all jobs or decisions seem easy until you actually start implementing them, and it's important to always take a positive course of action. Good leaders choose to walk the path of efficiency.
Three, tomorrow will come, don't regret what you have done
Long-term goals are not just an accumulation of a series of short-term goals, it is more a habit of mind and attitude. The industrial Internet and additive manufacturing (3D printing) will define GE's future. Persevere and don't give up. There will be times when our shareholders have different perspectives or values that transcend the process, but the right direction will lead the GE business to the best possible future, and the growth and development of the business in the future will prove it.
Four: Keeping Perceptions in Sync with the Facts
If we fail to look at something with a connected and evolving perspective, then its appearance often does not imply fact. Sometimes people like to say what they think in their heads and call it "candor". They feel good about themselves, but others feel worse. It is true that we should always have a frank exchange of views, but please bring solutions with you. Remember that facts point to processes, not to judgments and conclusions. Interpreting the truth often requires looking at something backward and forward.
Fifth, please think carefully with your head
The best leaders are often all-round thinkers. He needs to understand strategy as well as pay attention to detail; have both a global perspective and be able to look at things from the perspective of the next 10-20 years, as well as being able to focus on growth from quarter to quarter. There's no need to express your opinion on everything and involve others in decision-making.
Sixth, dare to authorize
Trust your team, when the team's goals are clear and fully empowered, is often the time when we grow the fastest. GE's winning initiatives: globalization, digitalization, green ideas, etc., can not be done without a strong team that acts efficiently and makes full use of our advantages of scale. The power of an organization must be delegated to the different people in it.
VII. We win in the marketplace, not in the boardroom
It's easy to confine ourselves to our corporate offices, but I've always been a firm believer in the philosophy that "it's the customer that makes the difference". Get together with the people with whom you are negotiating your future and listen to their insights. Be willing to try, don't be afraid to fail, and succeed by doing, not talking. GE has a record order book and market share that will pay off over time. Being a leader in your market means being an integral part of it, like oxygen.
VIII. Love your job, not your title
I work for you and your investors. If every day you stay away from your core work and are keen to attend conferences, various forums, etc., then you are actually deviating from your mission. I have never immersed myself in my title of CEO, but I love the amount and different forms of work that the CEO position itself brings me. I've never put myself above my work, and at GE, it's the goals and commitments that are truly valuable.
Nine, never give up
Tyson, the boxing champion, once said, "Everyone has their own set of tactics until they get punched in the nose by someone else." Leadership is a profound self-experience. How fast can you learn? How much are you willing to change? What are you willing to give? What can you endure? I know we can do better.
Ten, always lead the team
Realize your full potential and always be grateful for your work, your employees and your position. Every minute I spend with the GE team, I feel like they mean the world to me. I've never met more dedicated people than the engineers working alongside an aero-engine or a medical device. In any field, top talent wants to make things bigger and better. Leading a GE requires the ability to focus on each person and work with them **** to get the job done well.
Excerpted from: GE China