Making the Grass Greener on Your Side: A CEO's Journey to Leading by ServingFollow Toro's history - from a peak in 1979 following unparalleled expansion and development in 1979, to the brink of disaster in 1981, and back again. Learn about the company's cut-backs and sacrifices, its self-examination, its decision to embark on the path of servant leadership, and its ultimate return to profitability and customer satisfaction. Ken Melrose recounts his own process of refining his personal commitment to leadership principles and gaining the courage to implement fundamental changes. He tells which culture initiatives and leadership strategies the company applied, which worked, and why. Melrose describes a ""servant leadership"" model in which leaders operate from a principle-centered base by working for and serving the rest of the organization. This approach allows employees to grow and contribute inways that best serve the long-term interests of the company. Melrose tells of both the successes and struggles in applying the model to the Toro environment. |
Contents
Groundwork for Growth | 3 |
Be a SelfStarter | 23 |
Creating a Culture for Growth | 35 |
Seed Not | 51 |
Nurturing Growth | 71 |
The Accelerating Cycle of Success | 90 |
Section III | 103 |
The Leader as Servant | 123 |
Breaking Barriers | 142 |
51 | 149 |
The Renewal and Conservation of Resources | 158 |
Creating the Future | 176 |
The Harvest | 191 |
The Grass Can Be Greener on Your Side | 206 |
The Ultimate Harvest | 219 |
Index | 225 |
Common terms and phrases
achieve Artaban asked attitude become behavior believe building challenge coach commitment company's competitive contributions corporate culture create cycle develop distributors empower empowerment environment equipment Ernie expectations experience feel focus goals golf course grass green greener grow growth harvest HydroJet ideas important individual initiatives innovation Jim Willis journey Ken Melrose Kermit Kermit the Frog Larry Bird lawn mower Lawn-Boy learned long-term ment move Muppet Movie nurturing opportunities organization ownership percent performance philosophy Pillsbury Company plant positive potential Pride In Excellence principles problems Rainbow Connection recognize responsibility risk taking role root self-starters servant leadership share soil Stephen Covey success talk team members teamwork things tion Tom Peters Toro Company Toro employees Toro's total quality trust turf values vision Wheel Horse zero defects