Ron Williams, a veteran business leader and former CEO of Aetna, shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to corporate success. He emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions, suggesting that leaders should focus on "what" rather than "why" to drive clarity. Ron discusses how knowledge maps transformed Aetna's culture and improved business literacy. He also explores redefining the customer in healthcare, advocating for value-based approaches to boost engagement. His insights highlight continuous improvement and effective communication in leadership.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Unlikely Journey
Ron Williams, an African-American executive, grew up during the 1960s when corporate America lacked diversity.
He never imagined he'd transition from working at a carwash to flying on corporate jets, meeting top CEOs.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Aetna's Struggles
When Ron Williams joined Aetna in 2001, it had suffered significant financial losses and faced numerous lawsuits.
The company's prior management style had created a culture of fear, hindering open communication and problem-solving.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Ask "What," Not "Why"
Instead of asking "why," which can feel accusatory, ask "what" questions to understand challenges.
Focus on problems, not people, to foster collaboration and solutions.
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Ron Williams: Learning to Lead
Ron Williams is a veteran business leader, turn-around expert, and advocate for value creation. Today he is chairman and CEO of RW2 Enterprises and also a member of the board of directors for American Express, The Boeing Company, and Johnson & Johnson.
Ron is the former chairman and CEO of health insurance giant Aetna. When he joined Aetna in 2001, its loss from continuing operations was $292 million, with earnings per share at a loss of $0.46. In 2011, the year he stepped down as Chairman, Aetna’s full-year operating earnings were $2 billion, with operating earnings per share of $5.17.
In this conversation, Ron shares wisdom from his book, Learning to Lead: The Journey to Leading Yourself, Leading Others, and Leading an Organization*. Ron discusses his own leadership journey and how he asked the right questions to inspire a successful turn-around at Aetna. He also shares the reason for avoiding “why” questions and the value that knowledge maps provided at Aetna.
Key Points
Ron’s five kinds of questions that help challenge your organization’s reality:
Highlight key problems
Clarify the facts
Probe an underlying story
Suggest alternatives
Drill down to basics
In addition, Ron suggested:
Ask questions that start with “what” instead of “why.”
Utilize knowledge maps to support business literacy for complex issues.
Make yourself better every year by aiming for 15% improvement.
Resources Mentioned
Learning to Lead: The Journey to Leading Yourself, Leading Others, and Leading an Organization* by Ron Williams
Book Notes
Download my highlights from Learning to Lead in PDF format (free membership required).
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