The chairman and CEO at Chevron, Mike Wirth, said on an interview with the “How Leaders Lead” podcast recently how reaching out to employees through one-on-one communication continues to be the most powerful leadership tool-letters to personnel rank high on that list. For Wirth, in building a strong corporate culture, especially in a global company like Chevron, it is important for personnel to be recognized.
While visiting Chevron around the world, Wirth visits operations in person, speaks directly to employees for a feel of what they do, and meets with customers. He then takes the time to personally pen to each of those individuals an individualized letter, which he calls “old school” by today’s high-tech devices. He writes down every detail from the meetings and thanks them for letting him share that with him, which further drives home his appreciation for their efforts. “I look back when I was at a very early part of my career, and if the CEO sends a letter and actually knows what I am doing, it was just a big deal to me,” Wirth said, exemplifying empathy and recognition as key tenets in leadership.
Wirth said that after these trips, he usually writes from 60 to 80 letters. He believes this is essential to let the employees know that they have appreciated their work. This is unique as recent surveys suggest an employee recognition disconnect; from a report presented at Canva, 44% of workers feel unrecognized, while 75% hope for more recognition of their contribution.
Wirth’s approach is consistent with an increasingly larger trend of personal communication by leaders. For instance, CEOs like Geoffroy van Raemdonck, the CEO at Neiman Marcus, undertake similar practices, including sending a minimum of one thank-you note every day as well as communicating extensively to remain close to employees, especially in the midst of COVID-19. “I want to be a generous leader,” van Raemdonck said, which depicts how acknowledgment of generosity in others can very much constitute an essential dimension of effective leadership.
Wirth’s emphasis on letter writing is a powerful reminder that the most influential factor in establishing a healthy workforce culture is personal acknowledgment. Investing time in such communications will help you fill the recognition gap and build a sense of belonging in your teams.
