by Jack Mitchell (Hyperion, 2008)
Do you remember the ugly sweater? The one your aunt gave to you at Christmas when you were nine years old? The sweater you buried so deep in your closet that it wouldn't be rediscovered for decades? On top of being a crime against fashion, the gift was a flop because the gift-giver hadn't invested the effort into discovering your preferences or style.
Thankfully, not all gifts are wool sweaters. There's something special about unwrapping a present that's perfectly in step with your taste and interests. Over and above getting a gift you love, you receive affirmation that someone knows and cares about you. The perfect gift makes you feel valued at a personal level.
In Hug Your People, Jack Mitchell shares how the power of personalization attributes to the legendary work culture at upscale clothier Mitchells / Richards / Marshs. As CEO, Mitchell makes hugging his people a top priority. For Jack, hugging serves as a metaphor for personalized praise, encouragement, or friendliness. His company is infected with huggers, and, consequently, his retail stores have become some of the most sought after workplaces in New York City.
Mitchell encourages his associates to develop holistic relationships with one another that transcend the artificial boundaries of personal and professional. He advises managers to connect with those they lead, "as real people rather than as job responsibilities." His premium on personalized relationships translates into an environment where people are both understood and genuinely cared for as individuals.
As a writer, Jack Mitchell's style seems to be a reflection of his personality: upbeat, authentic, and fun. Throughout the book, he liberally doles out exclamation points while casually drifting in and out of stories about friends and colleagues. Some writers can be heavy on motivation and light on applicable content, but Mitchell deftly mixes the inspirational and the practical.
The book's highlights are too numerous to recount during a brief review, but a few areas merit special attention:
- Chapter Two's tips on hiring to fit culture;
- The emphasis on expectations rather than rules in Chapter Ten;
- The entire section on inclusion (Chapters 22-27).
Additionally, nearly every chapter sounds out Mitchell's recurring mantra: "Personalization delivered positively with passion."
Hug Your People floods the reader with reminders that the foremost ingredient of successful business is people. Author Jack Mitchell advises leaders to appreciate, admire, and connect with the uniqueness inside of every person. Mitchell writes with passion, wisdom, and the credibility of having a track record of impressive success. LW subscribers are highly encouraged to embrace his management philosophy as spelled out in Hug Your People.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter, "Leadership Wired," available at www.maximumimpact.com
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