Interview With Garry Ridge – CEO Of WD-40: Cultivating A Culture Of Servant Leadership

Garry Ridge is the CEO of the WD-40 Company. He is also the co-author of Helping People Win At Work: A Business Philosophy Called ‘Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A,’ with Ken Blanchard and a contributor in Servant Leadership In Action: How You Can Achieve Great Relationships and Results, with Ken Blanchard and Renee Broadwell.

Learn about servant leadership with Garry Ridge, CEO of WD-40

Recently, I had the opportunity to ask Garry his thoughts about servant leadership and changes in the leadership landscape. He was gracious enough to allow me to share his answers with you! I’m excited to let you have a peak at our discussion and what servant leadership looks like.

Interview With Garry Ridge – CEO of WD-40

1. How would you define servant leadership?

3 Things Every Leader Needs To Remember When Leading Others

It’s easy when you’ve been leading for a long time to forget the simple things of leadership. You let the basic tenants of leadership slip your mind and you begin to fall into bad habits.

You fail to treat others with respect. You believe to take rather than give. And you think you’ll be there forever.

Remember these things leaders

This happens when you forget to remember 3 things as you lead…

3 Things Every Leader Needs To Remember When Leading Others

1. Leadership is about treating others with respect: A huge trap leaders can fall into is the trap of thinking less of those you lead.

They’re being led for a reason, right? That’s the thought that goes through a leader’s mind as they begin to forget they need to treat those they lead with respect.

If you find yourself treating others with anything less than respect, check yourself. Go apologize. And correct your behavior.

Who Leadership Isn’t About

Is there a bigger leadership lie than the one that says leadership is about the leader?

He has to be front and center. He has to be known. And he has to get the credit.

That’s what we’ve been told for so long. It’s what has destroyed the leadership position.

Leadership is about others

Leadership isn’t about YOU, the leader.

You may be casting the vision. You may be leading the charge. Or you may be the one giving direction.

All of these actions can make it seem like you’re the one leadership is about. You’d be drawing the wrong conclusion.

Leadership doesn’t revolve around the leader. Leadership should revolve around those being led.

Why We Think Leadership Is About The Leader

In recent history, leaders have become the face of the organization. They talk about what’s going on and they cast the vision.

Stop The People Pleasing Monster

I have a problem I’ll reluctantly reveal to you. My secret is an ugly one. It’s also one many other people have.

My name is Joseph and I like to please people.

We become monsters when we become people pleasers

On the surface, people pleasing seems like a great thing. We’re able to make people happy. We’re able to help people get work done. We may even be able to make someone else’s life easier.

Those are all great things.

However, we have to be careful. People pleasing can go too far.

When People Pleasing Makes A Monster

I’ve been in situations where I’ve become a monster because of trying to please other people.

My attitude changed. I became cranky. I snapped at others. I had thoughts that I was a failure.

All the while people were being helped. Students in the youth group were being fed. Church congregants were being greeted and made to feel welcome. Work was being done.

What You Can Do To Demonstrate Leadership

I sincerely believe leadership goes beyond a title or position. Having one of those only goes so far.

People will follow a titled or positioned leader only so far. Eventually they’ll realize this person is a leader in name only.

This falling away is why you must do more than have a title to be called a leader.

Here’s a few simple things you can do to demonstrate you’re a leader even if you lack the title.

Serve: Great leaders serve. This has been Mark Miller’s philosophy and I buy into it.

Great leaders believe the best way to lead is to help others out. They put the needs of others first and look for places to serve.

Where’s a place you can serve? Why aren’t you?

Demonstrate: A great way to demonstrate leadership is to demonstrate what true leadership looks like.