Page 293 - Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company

274 The Disney Way

There may be some disagreement as to whether the public’s blood is
pumping with longing for a return to the old-fashioned values of family,
hard work, and excellence that Disney symbolizes, or whether a public pref-
erence for escapism is at the heart of Disney’s popularity. (No one, by the
way, disputes that the escapes Disney constructs are anything short of mag-
nificent.) In any event, the crowds that flock to virtually every Disney venue
would seem to bear out the assessment that Disney surely has the Midas
touch, whatever its source.
Walt Disney’s legacy, then, flourishes at the astonishing institution
called The Walt Disney Company. Like our nation, it is a restless enterprise,
always seeking new and better ways to entertain its audiences, to put on the
good show.
What’s more, every dream continues to be achieved with a management
style that remains true to Disney’s original vision: a firm belief in core values
backed up by hard work from a well-trained and dedicated team that relent-
lessly strives for perfection. The company today is a vital, living monument
to the enduring power of Walt’s way.
We have examined the four principles that make up the Disney manage-
ment style in separate chapters for the sake of our book’s organization, but
it is their integration and interplay that work to change companies. As you
envision their implementation in your company, think in terms of a holistic
integration and imagine the benefits to be derived.
For example, giving employees a chance to dream and to express their
creativity not only reinforces their value as people, but also inspires them to
bring forth innovative ideas from which the company can draw. By the same
token, a firm set of organizational beliefs not only ensures consistency in
operations, but also encourages all parties—coworkers, partners, suppliers—to
work cooperatively to further those beliefs.
Unshakable convictions, in turn, nourish the self-assurance and confi-
dence in one’s instincts that are needed to overcome a fear of risk-taking.
Daring to take risks encourages still further creativity and maintains the
vibrancy of an organization. It creates a sense of fun and adventure that
inspires individuals and teams to reach higher and work harder. And in the
end, the factors that make it possible to follow through and turn the dreams
into reality—that is, training, planning, communicating, and attention to
detail—all double back to promote more creativity, more concern for cus-
tomers, and more commitment to teamwork.