One of the most significant training events in my career was “Leading from Core Values”. When I took this training, I had just been promoted to Plant Manager in a high-volume automotive plant in MI and was clearly out of my wheelhouse. Most of my experience in Manufacturing was as Controller and I found it difficult to impact the manufacturing side of the wall as the Bean Counter. I was given the opportunity to move out of the comfort of my office and spend 2 years on the floor in a progressive manufacturing environment that was on the edge with Lean Techniques and Practices. Needless to say, I learned a tremendous amount about manufacturing in an environment where MRP was turned off and all product was pulled through the process. Like I said, this was a high-volume plant supplying the Big 3, Toyota, Detroit Diesel and Cat with engine bearings. The fact that we could ship 100% on time with < 2PPM with minimal inventory was amazing to me as a pseudo manufacturing guy but still really an accountant. What I did not learn was how to lead a team of 700 team members (UAW) through a difficult time when the Big 3 were demanding dramatic price downs. The training on Core Values was shortly after the promotion to Plant Manager and I was trying to find the common thread to provide leadership at a time that would require additional change. The training allowed me to understand the need to live my core values vs talk about them. To demonstrate truth, integrity, compassion, servant leadership allowed me to better understand what the team needed from me. Less talk, just lead and we will follow if we believe you are true to your word. It was a powerful lesson that I have maintained throughout my career when it was not a popular thing to do. I have found in my career that being true to my core values cost me my job. At that time, it was very confusing as I was asked to ignore what I knew to be true and right to support the financial expectations of the current month by the Board of Directors. I found myself treating my team in a way that I will say is regretful today. There is a fine line between pushing the team to change, explaining the need for the change and treating them with respect vs just DO IT BECAUSE I TOLD YOU TO!!! The best thing that could have happened to me and may family was for me to lose my job. One door close, another opens. Be true to who you are, treat other with respect and dignity and the rest will fall in place. Managers do not understand this…True Leaders Embrace This!
