It has been my experience that people make a huge difference in business. Their attitude, their understanding of where you want to go, and their willingness to help you get there can be your greatest assets. As a manager and leader, building strong relationships with your team is critical.
I recently was asked to share my thoughts on deepening relationships with the Building Champions team. Here are the principles I passed along to them:
One of the great things Building Champions’ coaches do in helping people prepare their Life Plan is to ask them to compose their own obituary. You write it the way you want to be remembered by your family, friends, colleagues and others important to you. For me, this was a powerful experience.
But how I wanted to be remembered was probably not how it would really be written if my life had ended right then. There were gaps that I needed to address.
Jerry Baker began his career in the management development program at Ford Motor Company, later became a manager of budgets and analysis for Northrop Corporation, then furthered his management development as Deputy Director for the California Department of Commerce when Ronald Reagan was Governor.
He advanced through senior management ranks at Countrywide Financial, becoming Managing Director. He then became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fleet Mortgage Group, a public company. Jerry joined First Horizon in 1998, holding several senior executive positions before becoming President and CEO of First Horizon National Corporation and First Tennessee Bank.
As a member of the Board of Directors Jerry helped to refocus, develop, recruit and lead the company through a tumultuous period. Under his leadership the company had nearly 10 years of double digit growth in returns.