Communication Skills Essential for Leaders

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patricia Woertz says she was chosen for her job primarily because of her strategic planning background and her communication and leadership skills. Her energy background--former top executive with Gulf and then with Chevron--was helpful,

A comment from a plant manager at one of her previous "big oil" employers underlines the strength of her communication skills: "This is the first person from the executive ranks who ever actually listened to what the folks at the refinery were saying," said the manager.

Woertz says it's "important to listen to what people are proud of" as well as "what they think we should change.... You learn so much from asking the questions of a wide variety of people in the organization."

When she made the switch from big oil to ADM, the world's top producer of ethanol, in 2007, Woertz continued to ask questions. Speaking at the University of Chicago School of Business during the taping of an episode of the PBS television series "CEO Exchange," sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management, Woertz also stressed the value she places on employee training and education.

In her view, it's just good business. Pointing out that the rest of the world, including ADM's competition, is constantly changing and improving, she says she's working to build an attitude of continuous learning into the ADM culture.

The bio-fuels giant does business in 60 countries, and Woertz promotes diversity among its leaders. In addition to hiring local leaders in each country, she likes to "[mix] the salad," placing a U.S. leader in Hamburg, a German leader in China, a Chinese leader in Australia, and so forth.

As Woertz plans for the future, she communicates her enthusiasm for the challenges that lie ahead, stressing that she views them more as opportunities than challenges. Such opportunities are "what people come to work for," she says. "[They're] part of the excitement of the future."

Visit www.shrm.org/ceoexchange for a link to airtimes on your local PBS station.