Management: November 2007 Archives
Fred Maytag
This is part of Unique Leaders' "Insight on Great Business Leaders"
Examining great business leaders to gain from their experiences.
VISION and CONCERN FOR OTHERS
"In all business, there is a factor which cannot be compensated for in dollars and cents or computed by any measure. It has no relation or connection with the mercenary and is represented only by the spirit of love which the true craftsman holds for his job and the things he is trying to accomplish."
Fred L. Maytag
Fred Maytag, the founder of Maytag Washers, was a great business leader in his days. What made Fred Maytag a great leader? In his case attitude was more prevalent than skills. He was not an educated man; he just had what it takes...
What made Fred Maytag different from others? He had vision and a concern for others. In the July 2006 article 10 Points to be a Successful Leader, we went into detail about these traits and how they help a person become a great leader.
F.L., as he was called, saw what was coming. He saw the changes in
The leader has vision. He can see the possibilities and knows that they are attainable. F.L. was in the farm machine business when he saw the future. He knew that the washing machine was something that was going to stay. He inspired others to believe in his vision and Maytag Washers was started.
He also had a vision of quality, which also relates to concern for others, which he inspired in his workers. He inspired his workers to produce the best or do not produce anything.
Part of the power of Fred Maytag and his ability to inspire others was his genuine concern for others. When you know that someone truly is concerned for your well being, you are more willing to put out the effort for this person.
Fred Maytag had that genuine concern for others. He wanted to succeed, but not at the cost of others, unlike some corporate leaders today. As he succeeded he helped those who were apart of that success.
Fred Maytag built homes for his workers and sold the homes to them on easy terms. He wanted them to have homes of their own. He built a theater, water plant and other things for the community. He had a true concern for those around him.
Fred walked among his workers, he was not above them, he was apart of them. He was always ready to listen to them. One of his favorite slogans was "is everybody happy?" and he meant it.
True concern for others and vision are two of the foundational traits for a great leader. Without vision you are nothing more than a hired hand. Without concern for others you are nothing more than a Hitler.
I look forward to hearing comments on vision and concern for others.
For more than 30 years I have been studying the lives of great leader (military, business and political). I have tried to model their success and to a good degree, I have enjoyed success. Nothing that I write about is theory, has been applied to my life with success.
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