Summit '08: Brad Anderson, Best Buy

Here are some notes from Bill Hybel's interview with the Vice Chairman and CEO of Best Buy (my favorite store):

• Brad acknowledged a deep respect for the employees who work the floor every day. That acknowledgment
• Employee Engagement is a measurable goal and culture.
  • And they're getting this by hearing stories from their employees, through a bi-annual 11-question survey.
• Brad acknowledged that the process of raising the engagement level of poor performing stores is primarily about leadership.
  • Brad repeated the priority of serving the employees who provide the customer service.
  • How do we build into our Christ-following volunteers who are the Church? What do they need in order to invite friends? In order to engage relationships with neighbors? To
• Remarkable. Brad understands that if a leader is suffering at home, is in any level of crisis, facing any emotional issues - it will show up in sales, performance, and leadership.
  • This represents the value of discovering and leaning into one's own style of leadership. His high emotional
• ROWE - Results Oriented Work Environment
  • See more about this revolutionary experiment here.
• As a Christ-follower, Brad admits to the tremendous burden and accountability of great wealth (which he has acquired through his success and leadership of Best Buy).
• On his role as a Christ-follower: he's not overtly announcing his Christian faith. He listens, watches, stays in tuned to the associate's sense of permission. Then he'll
• Best Buy's four key values:
  • Have fun while being the best.
    
  • Learn from challenge and change.
    
  • Show respect, humility and integrity.
    
  • Unleash the power of our people.

Brad's leadership style and core resonate with me. I appreciate his commitment to Jesus and his towering humility about accepting a "calling" to lead, although he never had a sense that he was born to lead. Brad is developing a culture in the marketplace that is honoring of people... that communicates they matter.

That's the Church in culture. That's Kingdom stuff.

Makes me want to go buy some geeky, cool techie thing right now.