I am confident that everyone at Hills gets up in the morning to do a good job. If things are not working it is up to the management and the board to put in the right training, the right skills, strategy, tools and funding. The buck stops with us.
What do you look for in your reports?
I have a lot of support for people who have imagination and think boldly about the business. If there is one thing I have little time for it is those that are too bound to status and position.
Lessons from leadership at Telstra
Some of the businesses that Pretty helped Telstra buy ended up failing or were sold at a loss. They include Solution Six, Sausage Software, Pacific Century CyberWorks, Reach and Keycorp.
“In Australia we have a cultural cringe: we acknowledge and laud people who have spent their time avoiding decisions. If you have a look at the review in the media about Marius Kloppers, they have made big bets, and business decisions based on the market and strategic imperatives, and supported by their board and a phalanx of advisors. But not everything is going to go right.
“What is worse is waking up to a Pacific Brands moment where your business has evaporated from underneath you.”
What should leaders never do?
You have to be careful about throwing too many ideas out there. A leader will sit and think more broadly than others in the organisation but if you think out aloud too frequently, you may think you are just chewing the fat, but on the end of that it feels like swinging on the breeze.
Don’t confuse charisma with leadership. You have to be approachable. Yes, your leader should have a degree of engagement, but some humility is the best characteristic. It is all acting in the best interests in the company.
Sources of inspiration and mentors
Ziggy (former CEO of Tesltra, Ziggy Switkowski) really imparted some good advice: he was ruthless about people knowing their numbers, drilling down, and knowing what was underneath.
When John Ralph chaired the Telstra board, he was one of those directors who would read everything meticulously. You knew you would go the rounds because he was across the detail.
From a values perspective, and for his consultative style, David Thodey, now the CEO of Telstra.
