Jacked Up by Bill Lane; McGraw Hill; Price: Rs.325; 324 pp
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At the height of his fame in the 1990s, perhaps no business leader — before or since — attained the iconic status of Jack Welch, former chairman of the American conglomerate GE (formerly General Electric) for almost a quarter century from 1980-2000. Most business analysts and biographers attribute his success in transforming GE into a global corporate heavyweight and the world’s most admired and analysed company, to his leadership, analytical and organisation skills. But according to Bill Lane, speechwriter for this feisty and irrepressible CEO nicknamed “Neutron Jack” by the media (able to decimate people without destroying property), the secret of Welch’s success was that he was a consummate communicator — he talked GE into becoming the world’s greatest company. Unsurprisingly, Lane claims some of the credit as Welch’s speechwriter who christened him CEO of the Century.
This book is about the moments Lane shared in a roller coaster ride from tough to tender situations in Jack Welch’s GE world — a world in which he lived and “breathed-with-bated-breath” for 20 years before he was summarily fired.
Lane offers a ringside view of GE under the tempestuous Welch who would often fly off the handle and didn’t care about mincing his words, many of which are unprintable. It was a tight-rope walk and Lane held his well-remunerated position of speechwriter — a VIP job in corporate America (and entertainment) — for over 20 years.
Yet the USP of Jacked Up is that it’s more than an insider’s biography or a self-aggrandising narrative highlighting the author’s critical role in the evolution of Welch into a communicator extraordinaire. Simultaneously it is a business management textbook replete with advice to incumbent and aspirant managers in industry with an eye on the top job. The book is rich with anecdotes about Welch in action and lessons in business and organisational leadership for which excellent, succinct communication is a prerequisite.
Although an almost non-existent species in India, the speechwriter’s job — particularly at GE under Welch — was a tough task. Lane recounts how he handled Welch with professional tact, and tells of frightening moments when he thought a poorly phrased remark that didn’t pander to the boss’ vanity would cost him his job. Survival at GE under trigger happy Neutron Jack required nerve, grit and managing a hard taskmaster, involved in every minutiae of the conglomerate’s business.
At another level Jacked Up is also Lane’s autobiography. It narrates Lane’s transformation from an army communications professional who taught top defence brass how to talk to Congress, into a corporate communicator pitch-forked into a lifestyle of corporate jets, bulging budgets, wining-and-dining and golf courses — all booby-trapped with verbal minefields.
A strong proponent of the power of the spoken word who believes every executive should be an effective and successful speaker, Lane gives plenty of examples of communication failures not tolerated by Welch — and how to spot them. Yet in essence this is a management manual with some earthy, commonsense guidance on leadership qualities, knowing what you want to achieve and how to get there — as Welch did in his long innings at GE.
“My advice to you as the leader CEO of a company or an institution who wants to take the first step toward improving your internal or external communications is to insist on total candour in every presentation beginning with yours… the political stuff, the bragging, the spinners, and the bores won’t go away entirely, but the liars will be banished from the podium, never to return, until you yourself bullshit your people or tell a lie. And you must never do that,” advises Lane.
Excellent advice that garrulous leaders of India Inc and Indian academia need to heed.
Amrish Thomas