Know your core, lead by example, & when necessary, "jump on the grenade."

We recently read the below LinkedIn post and found it to be very agreeable with our goals. We thought it was worth sharing. 

My boss welcomed me into her office & shut the door. I had no idea that meeting was about to deliver the impact of a hand grenade. “Welcome to OUR company. We’re glad you’re here," she greeted me. She quickly moved to a topic sacred to her & to the company: Core Values. She smiled but took on a serious tone. She said, “We stand for 3 things: 1) Do the Right Thing, 2) Teamwork & Trust, 3) Have a Passion for Winning – in that order.” It wasn’t marketing gibberish. These were expected & rewarded behaviors here. She continued, “My job is to make sure the CEO knows who Gary Frey is. Your job, once you’ve built your team, is to make sure I know who your stars are. Hire your replacement & never be afraid to hire people smarter than yourself.” Servant Leadership: She didn’t just talk about it. She LIVED it. She led by example. Her peers & the CEO recognized her for it. She had the most coveted object in our company tucked away on her shelf: a Waterford crystal hand grenade. She never mentioned it. She didn’t have to. It was legendary. A precious few were given by the CEO to associates who had “jumped on the grenade” on behalf of our associates & customers. She remains the best boss I’ve had. My takeaway: Know your core, lead by example, & when necessary, "jump on the grenade."

-Posted by Gary Frey via LinkedIn