Welch Endorses Candor, Eschews Caution

Business schools need to teach more organizational dynamics and human resources, Jack Welch told an audience filling the Rothman Winter Garden at they Hyde Park Center October 7 for a question-and-answer session during Alumni Weekend.

The former chairman and CEO of General Electric credited the GSB with teaching students to think for themselves but called for more training in and thinking about managing people. “In your first management job your job is going to be building a team, getting rid of the weakest, rewarding the best, [and] raising the bar,” Welch said. “I’d like business schools to do a little more of that, teaching people how to do that.”

Dean Edward Snyder continued the informal discussion by inviting Welch to expand on the discussion of candor in his recent book, Winning. “You have no right to be a leader if your people don’t know exactly where they stand,” Welch said. It’s a mandate to be honest. “Your real responsibility, in everything you do, is to be as open and transparent as you possibly can be and make it a value.”

Asked to give advice to help GSB graduates increase their chances of becoming CEO, Welch recommended over-delivery. “When you’re asked to do something, think beyond the assignment,” he said. “Over-deliver on it. Make the perspective bigger. Making your boss look good is a big part of your next move.”

He also recommended taking risks. “Be adventuresome,” Welch said. “You’ve got lots of years to be cautious.” Resiliency is a critical attribute, he continued. “You’re going to get knocked off the horse at least five times in the course of a career. Know you’re going to make mistakes, be humbled by it, learn from it, and get back on the horse. But don’t be frightened by it, don’t live in fear.”

— Jenn Q. Goddu