Celebration

In a recent issue of Training Magazine (May 2006), there was an article about the leadership legacy of Jack Welch, the much lauded former CEO of GE. Jack Welch is revered in business circles for good reason. He headed one of the largest companies in the world for 20 years, and was responsible for a market value increase from $13B to nearly $400B during his tenure.
What struck me most about his ideas about leadership was that they he was always focused on people. Jack Welch looked for authenticity above all other leadership qualities. He felt that success in business was about treating people well. And, most interestingly, he wanted the organization to celebrate! Celebrate the victories, no matter how small. Have fun and enjoy the work. In his own words:
"At GE, I preached celebration over and over again. Somehow it was just in my blood. I think you have to have fun in the workplace. There's no excuse for not doing it. Don't ever be too busy to do it; don't ever be too cheap to do it. Celebration is one of your biggest obligations."
We could not agree more! We had a wonderful time at our graduation ceremony. The LEAPers had an opportunity to present their work, and we had an opportunity to celebrate their creativity! We had great food, plenty of time to catch up with colleagues, and a chance to see this group shine. Enjoy these pictures of the LEAP graduation. It is our hope that the event adequately celebrated the achievements of this fine group of leaders.