Renewing American Leadership

Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE delivered an impressive speech to the United States Military Academy yesterday. In it, he said:

'To realise a better economic future, our country must change how we compete. In order to change, we must have: an understanding of what happened; a plan to win; and leaders who have the courage to change themselves and others.'

The full speech is well worth reading - http://files.gereports.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/90304-2-JRI-Speech-Reprint1-557.qxd_8.5x11.pdf

Here are the 5 leadership traits which GE is committed to improving:

• Leaders have to be better listeners.
• Leaders must become systems thinkers who are comfortable with ambiguity.
• Leaders must build competency and move with speed.
• Leaders must motivate with vision, but win through execution.
• Leaders must like and respect people.