Who is the Star of Your Company's Show (Donnie Smith of Tyson Foods)

Is there a totally different way to view your role in your company's organization structure? In this 80-second video, Donnie Smith, president and CEO, Tyson Foods, unveils an unorthodox and powerful new leadership model for you to consider. Watch the video or read the transcript below and consider this work application.

Work Application: Take one action to serve the peaches in your organization this week.

Transcript:

I sort of like to contrast the typical "pyramid structure" that most people think about when they think about a company and its corporate structure. The CEO at the top is kind of the star of the show and then (bless their hearts folks down at the bottom) the people that actually get the work done. Folks along that ladder, at the top often think that they are more important than the folks at the bottom.

We just summarily dismiss that. We don't believe that you're more valuable because you make more money or have a title. When we think of our structure, we think of it like a peach tree. The star of the show, of a peach tree of course, are the peaches. Those are the folks that in our case make the food and take care of the customer and call on the customer and those kinds of things and so, the way we see ourselves as leaders, for example the way I see myself: I'm down at the root structure.

The CEO's job is to let the roots bring in resources, and to provide stability, and structure, and direction for team who supports the people who support the star of our show - the peaches, the people that actually make great food and make a difference.

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[ Photo by Steve Harvey on Unsplash ]

Servant LeadershipFaith Driven TeamOctober 16, 2020Workmatters, Donnie SmithComment

Who is the Star of Your Company's Show (Donnie Smith of Tyson Foods)

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