Southwest Airlines changed the way the game is played in the airline industry. They created a new model that democratized air travel, making it affordable to people who typically traveled by automobile or not at all focusing simplicity, low costs, low fares and great customer service. Tradition doesn’t always work in any industry. Sometimes you have to flip your model upside down for a fresh look.
It is critical that leaders have a clear and concise vision if they want their organizations to survive and thrive through turbulence. Cultures can then be developed so your people can support the vision and business. Howard Putnam has created those cultures. He positioned and organized Southwest for growth and profitability utilizing a very flat management structure with decision making and idea development imbedded in everyone’s job scope and responsibility. Individuals and teams were rewarded for risk taking and for designing out of the box processes and improvements in productivity, customer service, cost containment, safety and profitability. In this presentation he will describe how this can work in your organization.