Stanley McChrystal: Teamwork, Better Communications Boost Business
PHILADELPHIA — Board rooms, assembly lines and deliveries on the roadways can be improved by enhancing the way managers and employees communicate, retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal told industry executives here Oct. 19.
“In a fast-moving environment, every day, we’re taking an organization that’s structured culturally and functionally” and look at how it can function better, the general said during a keynote address on leadership and ways to create efficient workplaces. The speech was delivered at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition.
Companies must break down whatever communication barriers they have created over the years to assure rank-and-file employees receive the commands from their managers promptly, McChrystal said. Workers also need to focus on important tasks to create more productivity, and organizing tasks, meetings and relevant paperwork improves time-management.
McChrystal also told executives to visualize their days and to emulate successful managers so their leadership skills connect better with staff.
The former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, McChrystal noted his missions garnered the results he had planned for primarily by improving the way teams working together communicated with each other.
After leaving the military, McChrystal founded the McChrystal Group, an Alexandria, Virginia-based consultancy firm.
