Croce on Croce
Croce tends to quote himself and his writing often in conversation. And why shouldn’t he? The man has a knack for simplifying complex concepts and turning big theories into memorable catch phrases. Number 12, for example, on his dirty dozen checklist for fostering a dedicated, cohesive and enthusiastic team, is C.A.R.E.: Compromise, Apologize, Recognize, Empathize.
Here are some others.
"The leader must be fully aware of the goals, roles and tolls that affect each member of the staff. Knowing these things will lead to proper action and effective interaction."
He ticks off another.
"Integrity has no on/off switch."
And another.
"There are Six C’s in Communication: Clear, Concise, Consistent, Credible, Courteous, Current."
And when it comes to articulating an organization’s goals, Croce, whose skill in crafting easy-to-understand precepts has served him well both as an executive and as a public figure, has even more advice.
"Don’t speak over people’s heads, use simple language and give them something to take home," he says. "I’m a big believer in breaking complicated ideas down to points on a to-do list. Everybody wants a cookbook."
Croce’s recipe for getting things done is broken down into four simple steps — paint your vision, develop tasks, prioritize action steps and do it now.
This real-life swashbuckler has a soft spot for pirate metaphors. He describes a high-performing team as a band of rogues, people who think for themselves and take initiative. But they need a captain they can trust to keep them from running amuck with an every-man-for-himself attitude.
"On a pirate ship, the crew voted the captain into power," he says. "He had to earn his authority, then let them know who was boss, make the rules and keep them working together and focused on their common objective — the attack. It’s not so different in a business. The leader of a group has to communicate the mission, get everyone to buy into it and make sure they follow through and do what they’ve agreed to do."
Croce describes himself as an MBWA, someone who ascribes to the Management By Walking Around philosophy. The term refers to his conviction that good leaders are observant and receptive because they know that valuable ideas and useful information can come from unlikely sources at unexpected moments.
"I’m a daily caller, e-mailer, note-writer," says Croce. "I share what’s on my mind. And I want my people to do the same. You must be in touch with your staff often and all the time. That’s why doing the ‘Five-Fifteens’ is like a religion with me."
The Five-Fifteens are progress and activity reports written by every employee and submitted to supervisors every Friday. They should take just 15 minutes to write and five to read. These keep Croce in the loop, and he’s instituted this bottom-up line of communication in every organization he’s run.
"The Five-Fifteens," he writes, "serve two main purposes: they keep practical information flowing and they get the celebrations going."
Croce is determined to enjoy every step on the road to success, and all his endeavors must meet the QPF standard. The acronym stands for his aim of delivering the highest Quality product or service, while making a Profit and having Fun.
Each element is equally important.
When I confess that interviewing him has been way too much fun to be called work, he is delighted.
"That’s the perfect ending to your story about me," he says with a laugh. "You should always have a great time while pursuing your goals. Life’s just too short for anything less."
HOW TO REACH: Pat Croce & Co., www.patcroce.com
