Tough Things First: Leadership Lessons from Silicon Valley's Longest Serving CEO

CHAPTER 5

Nurturing Corporate Culture

A frustrated member of the executive team shoved a fistful of one-dollar bills at me during a staff meeting.

He was both an executive and a friend, someone I had recruited from within the industry for his talent and his drive. The only problem was that he, like many men in the booming microchip industry of that era, had a mouth from which expletives erupted with consistent frequency. He was a great fit in Micrel’s culture except for this one habit, which is against the company’s policies.

This put me in a tough position. I wanted him on the team. I knew he would make significant contributions to the company’s success. But since foul language is against Micrel’s culture of upholding everybody’s dignity, he ...