Leave no stone unturned.
That four-word phrase has been used for thousands of years by scholars, poets and religious leaders to describe man’s insatiable quest for knowledge.
Leaving no stone unturned means seeking out good ideas and innovative solutions wherever you can find them. It means soliciting vendors, employees and customers for feedback. It entails reading trade publications, general periodicals, newspapers and books. It includes attending industry conferences, trade shows and networking receptions. And, most important, it means keeping an open mind.
That’s the mantra of this month’s cover subject, Steve Schmid, president of Smith Dairy Products. Schmid believes the key to Smith Dairy’s success is finding better ways to serve customers, no matter the source.
“Don’t think that you can do it all by yourself,” he says. “You might be a star, but you’re a better star if you’ve got your team working with you.”
In Schmid’s universe, that team extends outside the walls of Smith Dairy and even beyond trade and industry events to include a group of noncompeting dairy executives, with whom Schmid meets once a year. That group banters around ideas and talks about what’s worked and what hasn’t.
But Schmid’s main source of fresh ideas lies with Smith Dairy’s 400 employees.
“Make your trips into their space and have conversations,” he suggests. “Ask some questions, and always ask, ‘How can I help you?’”
Involving employees in the inner workings of your business can never hurt and always provides a different viewpoint than the one you hold.
As a leader, you’re often absorbed in such tasks as driving the vision-setting process, ensuring your company’s products or services remain relevant and making sure that your client base is happy. But taking time to pick employees’ brains for good ideas ensures you’re able to step outside yourself and see your organization from another perspective.
It also helps you identify future leaders who have the ability to contribute to your organization beyond current job responsibilities and who deserve extra attention in leadership development.
A good friend and mentor often says that leaders are at their best when they are developing other leaders. Schmid’s initiatives allow him to do both successfully — leave no stone unturned and develop future leaders. It’s a tasty combination — one akin to a cookie and a nice, warm glass of milk.
Contact executive editor Dustin S. Klein at [email protected].
