Outrageous, kind, irreverent and wicked smart, Herb Kelleher, Cofounder of Southwest Airlines, was an iconic leader whom people loved to follow. Here's what made him so extraordinary.
Yesterday, the world lost an American icon and a maverick in the airline industry. Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines' affable co-founder, died at the age of 87. Sadly, we lost a friend and a mentor, as did countless others.magazine noted,"Kelleher was perhaps the best CEO in AmericaHerb has been called a pioneer, fierce competitor and innovator. All of those labels ring true, but Herb was more than that.
The camaraderie between Herb and the employees at Southwest Airlines was remarkable. Many years ago, on Bosses Day, 16,000 employees of Southwest Airlines chipped in to purchase a full-page ad in USA Today to express their affection for the boss. They thanked Herb for helping load bags on Thanksgiving, singing at the holiday party and singing only once a year, letting them wear shorts and sneakers to work, being a friend, not just a boss, and remembering every one of their names.
If hiring for attitude seems somewhat subjective, it is. Herb made no apologies. He explained that part of the reason for an employee's probationary period is to determine if he or she is genuinely compatible with Southwest's culture. If they don't fit, it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the person; it means they are not a match.
Under Herb's leadership, Southwest instituted a Walk-a-Mile program. It was about developing empathy and a deeper understanding of the pressures people are under in other jobs. For example, pilots dressed as ramp agents loaded bags for a couple of days and learned how hard that job is.7. Be Yourself. Allow People To Be Themselves.
Herb believed that you didn't have to be boring to be successful. To show you how much fun he had being the CEO of Southwest Airlines, check out these must-see video clips:Thousands of requests for speaking engagements, presidential commissions, legislative issues, and business meetings related to the airline industry all vied for Herb Kelleher’s time. But Herb’s priorities were always the people of Southwest Airlines.
We remember being interviewed with Herb one time when a reporter asked him what his vision was for Southwest in the next ten years. Herb got very serious and responded,"My vision is to keep Southwest Airlines job-secure for our people." It is remarkable to think that up to the time of Herb's passing, Southwest has never had a furlough or layoff.Herb felt that there is no perfect knowledge. You'll never have enough data to guarantee success.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Herb Kelleher, Legendary Southwest Founder: From The Forbes ArchivesRevisiting the legacy and business lessons of Herb Kelleher.
Read more »
Herb Kelleher, Legendary Southwest Founder: From The Forbes ArchivesRevisiting the legacy and business lessons of Herb Kelleher.
Read more »
The Most Beloved Genius Dessert of All TimeIn our new cookbook, it gets a springy new 'do.
Read more »
Elephants rarely get cancer – and the reason why could help humansElephants have multiple copies of a gene that causes mutated cells to commit suicide, keeping their cancer rates low.
Read more »
20 Times Kourtney Kardashian Rocked an Understated LookKourtney Kardashian plays it cool in her fashion.
Read more »