Experience, Inc.

CHAPTER 7Authentic Beats Perfect : Leadership Today

I've always believed that you enjoy working for a company because you enjoy working for your boss. And that the whole culture of the company is reflected in your direct boss.

— Manager #1

The onus on managers to keep employees' interest alive is way more challenging now. You're a little square on a screen. I can't read your body language. You can't read mine. You might be bored out of your skull talking to me right now. You could be excited. You could be thinking, “When is this damn woman going to hang up?”

— Manager #2

We as a company, as leaders, as managers have to understand that people aren't motivated by the things they were in the past. It's not enough to dangle that promotion or raise or end-of-year bonus – I mean, those things are important, but I look at Alison, a superstar, and what a shame it would be if we did anything that made her go work elsewhere. The most important thing in her life is her three-year-old son. We have to accommodate that to retain her as a productive employee. We have to think in new ways about not only is experience important, but what kinds of experience? It depends on the industry but ours isn't one where you punch a clock, put in your time, count the number of widgets at the end of the day. We're in an industry where having people with diverse backgrounds, who are endlessly curious – they're gems. If we don't provide the kind of experience to retain those gems, we'll lose them.

— Manager ...