It’s easy to think of companies as big, faceless organizations, valued only for profit margins or stock potential. But it’s precisely when organizations are viewed only by the numbers, and not by the people working within them, that company culture suffers and things can go south.

Rick Williams knows that the key to success is creating an atmosphere of openness and trust that makes for a great board of directors or advisors, and a healthy company overall. Rick spent many years as a consultant, founded his own real estate investment company, and returned to consulting once again. He has been an executive, board member and board chair - in addition to mentoring CEO’s. Now authoring his first book, Create the Future For Your Company and Yourself, Rick shares his most valuable insights into corporate culture and governance boards – namely that the best thing you can do for your company is to honor the people within it.

Links

Arthur D. Little Consulting

Boston Consulting Group

McKinsey & Company

 

Quotes

“It’s a very human process…The truth is [companies] are collections of people working together.” [06:42]

“You have to be somebody who’s an empathetic listener.” [11:40]

“The leader has to set cultural expectations. So it has to be expectations for openness, trust, willingness to actually engage in difficult conversations. That’s where the culture part of it comes in.”  [20:42]

 

Big Ideas 

The nexus of Williams’ new book and how it can benefit companies as a whole. [06:56]

Creating an atmosphere of faith in transition of leadership. [11:30]

How to develop a culture of trust and openness. [21:04]

 

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