#28: Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s CEO—Tackle the Tough Assignments
Feb 18, 2021
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Marvin Ellison, Lowe's CEO, shares his inspiring journey of taking on tough assignments throughout his career. He discusses the value of hearing from front line team members, fitting into work culture, and the importance of work-life balance. Ellison's fearless leadership approach and courage in facing challenges are highlighted, encouraging listeners to demonstrate similar qualities in their roles.
Marvin Ellison demonstrates courage by taking on tough assignments throughout his career.
Lowe's University empowers frontline leaders to make decisions based on customer needs.
Ellison's resilience and focus on learning from setbacks shape his career trajectory and leadership style.
Deep dives
Marvin Ellison's Willingness to Take Over Tough Assignments
Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's, has valorously accepted challenging roles throughout his 25-year career. Coming from a background as a son of sharecroppers, he learned the value of proving his capabilities by taking on roles others avoided. He tackled situations head-on, showing courage and resilience in positions where he succeeded individuals who were fired or forced out.
Marvin Ellison's Strategic Approach at Lowe's
When transitioning to Lowe's, Marvin Ellison took proactive steps to understand the company by engaging with associates at various locations. Visiting all 15 geographic regions in six weeks, he observed the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. Implementing the Lowe's University, he aimed to empower frontline leaders to make decisions that best serve customers and the company.
Empowering Lowe's Frontline Leaders
Ellison's emphasis on empowering frontline leaders revealed how unintentional limitations were imposed by the previous management. The story of enforcing a planogram without consideration for local market factors showcased the lack of empowerment among store managers. To address this, Lowe's University was established to educate managers on effective leadership and decision-making.
Learning from Failure: Overcoming Rejections
Ellison's admission of facing rejections and being passed over for promotions highlighted the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks. These experiences taught him to not shy away from tough assignments and to focus on demonstrating performance to secure advancements. The ability to learn from failures was pivotal in shaping his career trajectory.
Marvin Ellison's Authentic Leadership and Personal Values
Ellison's authentic leadership style, rooted in personal values like faith, family, and company loyalty, resonates in his approach to work and life balance. By prioritizing and scheduling family events and aligning them with work commitments, he demonstrates the importance of living by personal values. Ellison's faith also plays a significant role in how he navigates challenges and success at work.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Responsibility at Lowe's
Marvin Ellison's proactive stance on addressing racial issues after the George Floyd incident highlighted his commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. By initiating conversations on race and inclusion within his team, Ellison strives to educate and create a safe space for discussions on social injustices. His efforts to promote diversity and share personal experiences underscore his dedication to social responsibility at Lowe's.
Have you ever taken over in a position after the previous person left under bad circumstances?
If you have, then you know – those are some of the toughest situations to walk into.
Marvin is amazing for a lot of reasons … but check this out: in EVERY new role during his 25-year career, he has taken over for someone who’s been fired or forced out.
Now, that is a man who is not afraid of a tough assignment!
Marvin was born as the son of sharecroppers and got his start as an hourly retail worker. He has risen through the ranks over the years with a ton of courage, taking the jobs other people didn’t want because he knew it was how he could prove his abilities.
Marvin is also one of the few Black Fortune 500 CEOs in our country, and it’s an honor to have him here to teach us that incredible things can happen when we are brave enough to tackle the tough assignments.
You’ll also learn:
A valuable point of view if you ever find yourself working for a competitor
One practical way you can avoid the leadership bubble and ensure you actually hear directly from your front line team members
A priceless piece of wisdom for what to do when you don’t feel like you fit into your work culture
One surprising element of work-life balance that doesn’t get talked about a lot
Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:
The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go
Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day
Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.
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