Domino’s Pizza is known for getting pizza to customers quickly, but it doesn’t take the same approach with its employees. Domino’s and its CEO, Richard Allison, know that focusing on people takes time and can’t be rushed. Of all the ingredients that go into making a delicious Domino’s pizza, the most important is the focus on its people.
The future of work is full of opportunities. But people won’t be able to take advantage of those opportunities if they don’t take risks.
It’s a philosophy Shellye Archambeau, former CEO of MetricStream, has followed her entire life. Shellye looked for opportunities early in life and took risks to get them. As an African American woman with an eye on not only working in but leading the tech industry, Shellye often had to chart her own course, but she grew by taking risks and creating success on her own terms.
Have you ever had a great mentor? Someone who guided your career, helped you learn and grow, acted as a sounding board, or helped you transition to various stages of work and life?
Unfortunately, I never had a mentor or a coach at any of the organizations I worked for. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why I went off on my own 15 years ago. I never really felt that anyone had my back, was willing to guide me, or help me grow personally and professionally, and that’s a bit sad.
Arthur Blank is the co-founder of The Home Depot, a home improvement retail chain which today has a market capitalization of over 300 billion and over 400,000 employees. Arthur is also the author of the new book, Good Company, which comes out on September 15. Arthur has been named one of the world’s 100 greatest living business minds by Forbes in 2017, Executive of the Year 2018 by Sports Business Journal, and one of the 50 most influential people in Sports 2016, 2017, and 2018 by Sports Business Journal.
Costco warehouses are for more than just bulk goods and samples—they’re also home to happy employees. Costco is regularly ranked a top place to work and a company with the happiest employees, largely due to a culture that values employees and treats them fairly with good benefits and wages. Setting the tone for that culture is CEO Craig Jelinek. Craig follows in the footsteps of previous Costco leaders to put his people first and continue a legacy of engaged employees.
How a company responds during a crisis can speak volumes about its culture and character and of course the experience it wants to create for its people. Does it rush to sell its product and boost sales? Does it reach out to customers? Does it protect its management and lay off entry-level employees? Treating people well during times of prosperity is easy, but treating people well during times of stress and tension is what really matters.