Page 49 - Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company

30 The Disney Way

Time, persistence, and commitment are the keys to long-term benefits.
And remember, as we always say, “The first 99 are the hardest!”
The Dream concept is first and foremost a visionary undertaking, but
both management and employees must keep the overall organizational values
firmly in mind as they plan new strategies and set about implementing cul-
tural change. In other words, if innovation is to be successful over the long
term, it’s imperative that a company remain true to itself. In the chapter
that follows, we explore what Walt Disney did to ensure that his dreams and
those of his company remained firmly grounded in a set of basic core beliefs.
And we examine how a Disney-like adherence to a values-based approach is
helping other companies to achieve bottom-line success.

Questions to Ask
■ Does top management acknowledge that the process of “dreaming”
inspires creativity?
■ Does top management understand that adopting new paradigms takes
time and commitment? Is it willing to see the transformation through
to its fruition?
■ Do your teams participate in off-site retreats where they engage in
strategy and planning?
■ Do you utilize the storytelling technique in planning projects?

Actions to Take

■ Hold annual, off-site Dream Retreats for top management and all
departmental teams.
■ Unleash creativity by encouraging all employees to participate in struc-
tured dreaming to solve problems and develop solutions.
■ Engage employees in developing the story of what the organization
could be like in five years. From these stories, develop a vision of what
the company will look like five years from now.
■ Determine the values the organization must embrace to achieve its
vision.
■ Communicate the organizational vision and values to your coworkers,
customers, suppliers, managers, directors, and stockholders.
■ Display the organizational vision and values in prominent places through-
out the company.