Page 183 - Executive Warfare

The People You Have to Motivate

In his 2005 book, Disney War, author James B. Stewart points out that
when the company attempted to generate letters of support for Eisner in
the middle of this campaign, “the silence was deafening.” At the critical
2004 annual meeting that effectively put an end to Eisner’s reign, it was
not just 43 percent of the Disney shareholders who withheld their votes
for Eisner’s reelection to the board—but, according to Stewart, 72.5 per-
cent of Disney’s own employees, voting through their 401(k)s.
Apparently Eisner, who was famous
for feuding with his lieutenants, had
A CHIT SYSTEM
failed to build much loyalty among the
BEATS
troops.
NETWORKING
Well, when things are going well, you
EVERY TIME.
really don’t need loyalty. The stock is
rising or the fund-raising is ahead of
schedule, everyone is getting a nice bonus, so everyone is happy. It’s when
things are hard that you need it. My advice is, treat the people who work
for you with respect and start building that loyalty today.

163