There´s an insightful piece in Fast Company about Microsoft´s Satya Nadella. A long read but well worth the effort if you´re interested in how old companies can renew themselves in a very short time.
It focuses on how Mr Nadella has transformed the culture of Microsoft from the “sharp elbowed” one under Messrs Gates and Ballmer to a more empathetic and collaborative one. But what is even more amazing for me is that he has changed the culture at the same time as turning the company around.
I think many of us remember that time when the mighty Microsoft was looking pretty woebegone at Apple´s success with iPod, iPads and iPhones. Mr Nadella took the helm at the height of the company´s spell in these doldrums but, according to Harry McCracken, the author of the piece, “he’s generated more than $250 billion in market value in just three and a half years—more value growth over that time than Uber and Airbnb, Netflix and Spotify, Snapchat and WeWork. Indeed, more than all of them combined.” This is remarkable. The stuff of MBA case studies, multiple “how to” books” and a hat-trick that would be the envy of many a CEO. And yet, as the article points out, this has been achieved quietly and without too much media attention, hullabaloo, or even tooting of a very little horn.
Specifically, Mr Nadella has sought to develop greater behavioural competency in two key areas within Microsoft employees in order to change the culture:
- collaborative empathy. and,
- a “growth mind-set”
The latter concept is borrowed from Carol Dweck’s book Mindset and Mr Nadella consulted with Ms Dweck in developing the approach. The desired outcome for wanting to change the culture was to develop “a culture that allowed (Microsoft) to constantly refresh and renew”.
As we move into a future where machines will replace humans wherever we lack competitive advantage, it is vital that individuals and corporations, both, are thinking about how to develop more flexible thinking, accept and embrace lifelong learning, and to learn how to dial up the essence of what it means to be human, our ability to understand and share the feelings of another. All of these attributes are going to be essential. There´s a lot of press on this. But not enough on exactly how it can be done, or even if. Until Mr Nadella shone a light.