FdP Weblog

Today I’ve had the privilege to meet again Gordon Bethune in Rome  Fortune-Article Gordon is a “man of great stature”, not only for his physical presence but also because he’s strong in mind and in character.

What else can you expect from the man who in the 90’s led the monumental change of Continental Airlines from being the worst among the nation’s ten biggest airlines to the now recognised as one of Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America”?

Gordon did with CA exactly what WE need to do with Alitalia: changed the management and managed the change starting from people. He developed a plan for success and had the committment and the responsibility to implement that plan! The real problem with Alitalia – he told me today – is that too many changes have been made without changing anything. You need a leader, one who takes responsibility and builds value relationships with workers and customers, a people person not just a front man! You’ve got to know that the secret is execution, i.e. being strongly committed to do something successfully, design a simple plan addressing all the critical aspects of a business and put it in action“.

In a few words execution means being “responsible to get things done“, as he briefly explained the concept to one of my students asking today the tips to be a successful leader. You can’t expect to communicate value to your peers, staff and customers, just by proposing some different. “Different from what”? Each human being has a personal way to perceive value - he told him.

And Gordon – the creator of the Go-Forward Plan – is exactly “a man in motion” who doesn’t look back, able to challenge all the people who meet him to develop and use their speed and agility….  the kind of men and attitude we need to reverse the decline of Alitalia. Can youuuu hear me…………