Dedicated to UPS people around the world.
Words could never express what I feel for my many colleagues, mentors, and friends from UPS with whom I've had the privilege to serve over the years, and which ultimately led to the writing of this book.
This book is about delivering. It's what UPS does every day of the week around the world.[1] Our friendly drivers in their sharp brown uniforms are the front line of our business. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that they love their UPS drivers and how much they look forward to receiving the packages the drivers deliver each day. The entire company-from the part-time employees to the chairman of the board-dedicates a tremendous amount of time and effort to support the endgame: the driver delivering the package.
Founded in 1907 and thriving more than ever, UPS is a very large family with a unique business culture. I am certain this distinctive culture is the reason for the company's remarkable success and is what keeps us in the number one spot for our industry even today.
I am proud to say that I was a UPS driver. Over the years, I worked my way up the ladder and eventually became president of UPS International, where I was responsible for UPS's operations in more than 220 countries and territories-directing thousands of managers at all levels. At different times, I served as chairperson or cochairperson of 33 boards of directors of highly successful companies across the globe. I was also one of a handful of people on the corporate management committee, responsible for the day-to-day operations of UPS and our more than 435,000 employees.
Leadership Matters
If I've learned anything during the long course of my life in business, it's this: leadership and a values-based culture matter. They are the key components that set great organizations apart from the pack. As the president of UPS International, I worked alongside many types of leaders from around the world, and I learned important lessons in leadership from each of them. The great ones, the less successful ones, and those who failed all taught me something. Whether they were in charge of small companies or international conglomerates, I witnessed firsthand what they did right and what they did wrong. I took to heart what those experiences taught me.
Reading a lot of theory is not why I buy books. I want facts, true stories, and sharp insights on leadership. To me, the most encouraging moments in life do not involve overly complicated, untested ideas. Rather, they are natural, timeless, and orderly progressions marked by accountability. Leadership is not rocket science. To build a high-performance team, use simple principles within a basic structure that everyone can easily understand.
To build a high-performance team, use simple principles within a basic structure that everyone can easily understand.
I have certainly made more than my share of mistakes through the years, and I'd like you to be the beneficiary of what I've learned from them. I hope that the lessons in this book will keep you from stepping on some of those same land mines and help propel you further and faster toward the attainment of your goals. If you've committed to venturing into the realm of leadership, you should know up front that your journey will take you down a winding road of small advances, painful setbacks, and even bigger victories.
The fact of the matter is that I learned the most important leadership lessons from people within my own company, UPS. As I discovered, a great recipe always means that certain ingredients simply cannot be substituted or left out.
What Brown Did for Me
One of the biggest things Brown did for me (UPS is affectionately known as "Brown," after the Pullman-brown paint color of the company's vehicles) was to give me a PhD in teamwork. The values-driven culture at UPS provided me with both a platform and a regimen for personal growth. It consistently stretched and strengthened my development as a leader. I knew that I'd arrived at UPS whenever I'd hear someone say, "You bleed Brown." Believe me, that's high praise.
It is the dedicated people who made the company successful, day in and day out, in the trenches, and often under some of the most adverse business and political conditions in the world. These hardworking men and women deserve the credit for the success we achieved.
UPS is a no-nonsense, no-frills company. Our objective today is the same as it was when the company was started: to provide the best possible service at the lowest possible rates. The UPS mentality is to be thrifty and keep an eye on the bottom line. We know it's the little things that make a big difference-like turning off the lights when we leave a room to reduce energy costs.
The UPS culture of treating one another as family has served us very well over the years. When leaders look at their team members in this light, the importance of using their influence to serve those with whom they work comes into sharp focus. Priorities turn into sincere concern for the well-being of others and foster the desire to motivate everyone to bring his or her very best to work each day, helping the organization to reach its full potential.
Unfortunately, many people promoted to leadership positions don't know where to begin, how to fight through the middle, or how to finish strong. Novices, and even some veterans, often lack an understanding of what it takes to be a leader. Perhaps you fall into this group and firmly believe you are capable of leading others, but you're not quite sure how to go about it. You begin to ask yourself questions like: How do I influence others? Why do some leaders seem to soar, while others barely get off the ground? How do I get started and maintain an upward trajectory that will lead to professional and personal growth?
This book has the answers. The leadership style described in Leadership Lessons from a UPS Driver is simple, it's direct, and it works. It's from the front line and reflects the values those of us in the UPS family hold dear. The straightforward and easy-to-understand lessons I present will enable you to get on your feet and then ride out the inevitable storms.
Just as the laws of physics describe the universe around us, there are core principles that give shape to the leadership world. If you adhere to them, they will lead you to the success you desire. And although the core values that guide you should remain true and unchanging-your North Star-there are always new things to be learned.
At the end of this book, you will find a study guide that you and your team can use to dive deeper into the key points presented in each chapter. Together, you will discover ways to get better at "delivering" what you do.
