Incentive - October 2011

QHow can CEOs stay connected with their employees?
CONANT: In addition to “wandering
around” frequently on campus, I (with my
assistant) scanned the organization to find
individuals and teams that were making a
difference. I spent about 30 minutes each
day personally handwriting 10 to 20 notes to
those people and teams. It is critical that all
executives find ways to “make it personal”
with employees. I also wrote notes once a
month to our 25-, 30-, and 35-year service-
anniversary employees. It took discipline, but
the practice proved to be amazingly powerful.
Over my tenure, I wrote over 30,000
notes. You can go almost anywhere in the
world and find a Campbell office cubicle
with one of my notes posted. The notes
validated our strategies, told people that we
were paying attention, and let them know
that we cared enough to say thanks. Over
time, we developed an entire culture of find-
ing ways to celebrate contributions.
It is important to note that these letters
were never intended to be gratuitous; they
were intended to be acknowledgments of
important contributions to our company.