Disney's Leadership (or Mickey's 10 Commandments)

Here's something I just had to share from a forum I frequent (the leadership hub) . Its supposedly how Disney practices its business models - though it can easily be gleaned as potential leadership tenets themselves. Whether we have Marty Sklar - then head of Disney Imagineering to thank, or Walt himself, I don't know... but I think it is best to honor both by sharing this to as much people as possible.

Without further ado... the 10 commandments.

1. Know your audience
   Don't bore people, talk down to them or lose them by assuming that they know what you know.
   
2. Wear your guest's shoes
   Insist that designers, staff and your board members experience your facility as visitors as often as possible.
   
3. Organize the flow of people and ideas
   Use good story telling techniques. Tell good stories not lectures.
   
4. Create a ‘come to me’ (the castle, the Epcot dome)
   Lead visitors from one area to another by creating visual magnets and giving visitors rewards for making the journey.
   
5. Communicate with visual literacy
   Make good use of all the non-verbal ways of communication - colour, shape, form, texture.
   
6. Avoid overload
   Resist the temptation to tell too much, to have too many objects. Don't force people to swallow more than they can digest, try to stimulate and provide guidance to those who want more.
   
7. Tell one story at a time
   If you have a lot of information divide it into distinct, logical, organized stories. People can absorb and retain information more clearly if the path to the next concept is clear and logical.
   
8. Avoid contradiction
   Clear institutional identity helps give you the competitive edge. The public needs to know who you are and what differentiates you from other institutions they may have seen.
   
9. For every ounce of treatment, provide a ton of fun
   How do you woo people from all other temptations? Give people plenty of opportunity to enjoy themselves by emphasizing ways that let people participate in the experience and by making your environment rich and appealing to all senses.
   
10. Keep it up
    Never underestimate the importance of cleanliness and routine maintenance. People expect to get a good show every time. They will comment more on broken and dirty stuff.

Source: A talk given by Marty Sklar, then head of Walt Disney Imagineering

www.theleadershiphub.com/blogs/mickeys-ten-commandments-and-how-they-apply-leadership