Why you need to talk to people in the trenches

The late Andy Grove, CEO of Intel and a great business leader, advocated paranoia about competition. In the fast-moving world of semiconductors, that served him well.

Managerial paranoia is only useful if it translates into creativity. Mr. Grove had advice on that: “People in the trenches are usually in touch with impending change early.”

Change affects us all. Good managers talk with the people in the trenches, with their customers and with their suppliers to get a handle on it. They invite suggestions and new ideas.

“Recognize that the winds have shifted,” Grove said, “before you wreck your boat.”

– Kip Caffey, Resurgent Advisors