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Surround Yourself with Smart People

by Les McPhearson on February 27, 2009 · Comments

Recently, Chris Palmisano, one of our managers from Consumer Innovation, was featured in G.I.Jobs, a site showcasing former military members who have transitioned into Corporate America. As a former Navy Junior Military Officer (JMO), I was part of the military when it was evolving from “read my lips, do as I say,” to a strong emphasis on leadership and even consensus building. Chris is a strong example of this. He has been with Humana a couple of years, including a stint in London, has proven himself in myriad settings, and exhibits that talent can come from places you may not expect. The military is an intentional talent source for Humana, and we are proud of Chris and his continued service to his country through the reserves. 

My belief is that surrounding yourself with super smart people (yes, even smarter than you) elevates performance throughout the organization. I didn’t always feel this way. Early in my career, my pride and ego would have prevented me from really hiring someone who I felt was smarter than me… until the day about 9 years ago when I did it. You can imagine my surprise when everyone’s performance was elevated. I came to realize that surrounding yourself with great people wasn’t a threat – it made everyone better. Seems like a no brainer, but it wasn’t to me. And it’s not the norm in business today.
 
I am especially proud to see that at least 3 people who worked for me in the past are now in significant leadership positions 2 or 3 levels higher in the organization. They weren’t a threat to my job; they simply made our company better, which is precisely what we want.
 
Of course, I have an affinity for former members of the military. They bring leadership, technical skills, and discipline that is extremely valuable in today’s business world. They are adaptable and motivated, and come in and hit the ground running.
 
Well done Chris!

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DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.