Chrome Sweet Chrome

Kent M. Keith, 61, is CEO of Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, a Westfield, IN non-profit that advises groups and individuals on practical and ethical ways to help others.  Kent, according to Jeffrey Zaslow in this past Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal, has been a do-gooder since his days as a Boy Scout in the 1950’s.  So intent on saving the world with his altruism, garnering merit badges and organizational praise, young Kent’s father pulled him aside on day and said, “Kent, don’t help the old lady across the street unless she wants to go.”

The point of Jeffrey’s discussion with Mr. Keith were summed up in four points with the headline, “Before You Decide to Save the World”:
 Throw away your assumptions about what you think people need.
 Ask recipients what they think might work.
 Focus on ideas that may be more effective than the obvious project
 Be willing to be anonymous.

Young Kent’s father’s advice and the life lessons he took away might serve as guide posts for leadership for the Detroit Three, recently chastened Toyota, and any number of enterprises, automotive and non-automotive alike.

I might sound a bit altruistic myself, but see how effective these rules are when we see GM offering to bring back 661 formerly cancelled dealerships back into the fold.  No doubt, GM and its government handlers were only trying to help, but found themselves making the damnest decision to actually hurt themselves in the market place, pursuing an assumed benefit in reducing their dealer body.  The action was so out of bounds, that even Congress could see it didn’t add up.

A further guideline to keep in mind would be, “Only the humble have true self-confidence.”