For All Leadership: Maximizing Everyone’s Potential

“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.” - Maya Angelou

Over the last few months I’ve traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos, London, New York, Texas, Florida, Virginia and California to spend quality time with amazing executives like Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta, World Wide Technology CEO Jim Kavanaugh, Wegmans CEO Colleen Wegman, Santander Chief Digital & Innovation Officer Lindsay Argalas, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, Accenture Global CEO Julie Sweet, Workday Co-founder and CEO Aneel Bhusri, EY CEO of North America Kelly Grier, Four Seasons President and CEO John Davison, and Vistage Worldwide CEO Sam Reese.

I also met with some of the top Chief People and Chief Human Resources Officers in the world: Salesforce Chief Equality Officer Tony Prophet, Hilton’s Matt Schuyler, Cisco’s Fran Katsoudas, World Wide Technology’s Ann Marr, Workday’s Ashley Goldsmith, Accenture’s Ellyn Shook and Wegmans’ Kevin Nichols.

These executives are all delivering market-leading business results, creating powerfully magnetic workplace cultures and consistently providing an outstanding employee experience for all their people. They’re a big reason why their companies appear on many of the Best Workplaces? lists we produce throughout each year.

 “There’s a fine balance between obsessing about your craft and being there for your family. It’s akin to walking a tightrope. Your legs are shaky and you’re trying to find your center. Whenever you lean too far in one direction, you correct your course and end up overleaning in the other direction. So, you correct by leaning the other way again. That’s the dance.” - Kobe Bryant

 Whenever I meet with great leaders and their teams, the shared obsession to be great is obvious. They prepare tirelessly, often work at 35,000 feet (literally), and are as comfortable on the loading dock as they are in the boardroom. They have committed their lives, and the lives of their families, to making each of their organizations a great place to work For All?.

Why do For All leaders do this dance? Actually, I don’t think they have a choice. This leadership path has chosen them. They’re driven to fulfill a greater purpose while here on earth that they only partially understand. Even though the greatness they seek is fleeting, they pursue it anyway, working tirelessly to ensure that their organizations achieve more than just great financial results.

Yes, they expertly manage profit and cash flow as these are critically important, but they do more. They also work to clarify and communicate their organization’s purpose as they know that purpose-driven people will drive those profits, all while caring for each other and the planet at the same time.

I also see these qualities in organizations that have created an employee experience that earns Great Place to Work? Certification?. These organizations have leaders who can inspire employees that have been there for 30 days or 30 years - regardless of title, role, rank, status, gender, religion or political views. These leaders see employees as people first. They too are obsessed with pursuing greatness and fulfilling their purpose, even though it requires a lot of time “in the gym.”

What unites all these leaders is that they see their most important role as developing many more For All leaders. While everyone in their organization matters, they hold a special place in their hearts for mid-level managers and front-line supervisors. They know these magicians translate high-level strategy into detailed work requirements each day, giving work meaning and purpose for their people.

For All leaders continuously change, improve, adapt and ensure their organizations do the same.

Today, the 2020 100 Best Companies to Work For? and Best Big Companies to Work For? lists were published with our partner, Fortune magazine. On March 3 rd, we’ll be recognizing great leaders from some of our premier lists at our For All Leadership Awards gala. On March 4 th and 5 th, over 1,500 will convene in San Francisco at our For All Summit to learn how to level up their leadership to drive business results, increase innovation and create a great place to work For All. I hope to see you there.

Best to all,

Michael C. Bush

Chief Executive Officer | Great Place to Work