I love people who are plainspoken. They speak clearly without a lot of industry gobbly gook. Marketing and business jargon, in general, does nothing for me. It often sends the signal that says, “look what I know,” which is rarely helpful. From OKR, KPI, to PIP, employees want to be treated and spoken to like adults. Being plainspoken is my mantra.
As a life-long communications student, I’m always hungry to taste clear, crisp ideas that are respectful, insightful, and stuffed with simplicity.
Patty’s book Powerful was recommended to me by my friend Anne to help me think about making brands live in the hearts and minds of employees. I can’t wait to read it. Anne also suggested I listen to some of Patty’s YouTube videos and Ted Talks.
I’m in love with Plainspoken Patty.
From the blurb about Patty’s book Powerful
“When it comes to recruiting, motivating, and creating great teams, Patty McCord says most companies have it all wrong. McCord helped create the unique and high-performing culture at Netflix, where she was chief talent officer. In her new book, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, she shares what she learned there and elsewhere in Silicon Valley.
McCord advocates practicing radical honesty in the workplace, saying goodbye to employees who don’t fit the company’s emerging needs, and motivating with challenging work, not promises, perks, and bonus plans. McCord argues that the old standbys of corporate HR―annual performance reviews, retention plans, employee empowerment, and engagement programs―often end up being a colossal waste of time and resources. Her road-tested advice, offered humor and irreverence, provides readers a different path for creating a culture of high performance and profitability.
Powerful will change how you think about work and the way a business should be run.“
Iconic Leader with a Plainspoken Approach
Patty McCord is the iconic former HR leader at Netflix. She, along with Reed Hastings, developed the infamous Netflix deck on culture viewed over twenty million times. Her consulting practice and website are filled with helpful videos, posts, and information about work today.
This five-minute Ted Talk by Patty is so plainspoken about how to treat people that I thought it worth sharing with you. It will remind you how important it is to say what you mean in a language that everyone can understand.
So grab some Oolong tea or iced matcha latte, and listen to plainspoken Patty. Whether you lead a company, HR, marketing, or another team, the next five minutes will make you smarter.
You can set up a time to chat with me about your marketing challenges using my calendar. Email me jeffslater@themarketingsage.com Call me. 919 720 0995. The conversation is free, and we can explore if working together makes sense. Watch a short video about working with me.
