Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, co-wrote a book called "Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell" with two other Google executives. The book highlights the wisdom and teachings of Bill Campbell, a legendary executive coach and mentor who passed away in 2016. Campbell worked with numerous tech companies, including Google, eBay, Facebook, Apple, and Twitter, and was known as the "trillion dollar coach" due to the collective value of these companies.
As a business coach, Campbell focused on helping executive teams work together and get the best out of each other, rather than providing specific project oversight or strategic advice. Here are five key takeaways on leadership from Campbell:
Picking the right team members is crucial. When building a team, it's important to look for people with smarts, hearts, and a team-first attitude. These qualities include the ability to learn quickly, a willingness to work hard, integrity, grit, empathy, and a team-oriented approach.
Every business needs a clear decision-maker. The CEO should allow team members to express their viewpoints, but ultimately must make the final decision. It's important for leaders to show decisiveness, especially during difficult times when teams are looking for loyalty and commitment from their leaders. A good approach is to tackle the biggest problems first, addressing the "elephant in the room" head on.
Trust is the foundation of strong teams. It's a common misconception that the best teams are composed of people with complementary skills and similar personalities. In reality, mutual trust is what makes a team strong. If team members don't trust each other, nobody will be willing to go above and beyond for the team. Building trust takes time and effort, but it starts with being willing to believe in people and pushing them to be more courageous.
Open communication is key. Encourage team members to speak up and share their ideas. Make time for regular check-ins and listen actively to what team members have to say. This can be achieved through techniques like "trip reports," where team members share updates about their personal lives and experiences outside of work.
Show appreciation for your team. Make time for your team outside of work and show that you care about them as people, not just as employees. Ask about their families and personal lives and be there for them when things get tough. Recognizing and valuing the contributions of team members can go a long way in building strong relationships and a positive work culture.
Ending with a profound insight from Bill Campbell:
“Leadership is about recognizing that there's a greatness in everyone and your job is to create an environment where that greatness can emerge”
Keep learning!
Link to book: https://amzn.to/3XfeUDK
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