#148: Jim Fish, CEO of Waste Management – Put your people first

Okay, imagine this… Your alarm goes off at 1 a.m.  In an hour, it’s your job to be on the back of a trash pickup truck.  Oh, and by the way? You’re one of the top leaders of the company. Believe it or not, that’s exactly what today’s guest did … every week, for seven and a half years! Jim Fish, the CEO of Waste Management, is just that kind of leader – one who spends time on the front lines to be with his team and truly listen to them.  Jim is connected to the people he leads, and he’s focused on putting them first when he makes decisions. And he knows that by taking care of his people, they’ll then take care of customers, and that, in turn, provides value to shareholders. It’s a fantastic formula, and it’s inspiring to hear how Jim is putting it to work while also finding new ways to think about sustainability. That includes being the title sponsor of the Waste Management Open on the PGA Tour, which SOMEHOW is a zero waste event despite the 700,000 fans who come for the party. We get into all that and more in this episode, so listen now!  You’ll also learn: Two practical ideas to help you deal with a shrinking trade labor pool How to use technology to minimize the impact of turnover How they’ve reduced customer call volume by 25% What really goes into making the Waste Management Open a zero-waste event Four traits of a healthy CEO Tips for assessing risks for your business – and protecting your business from them The weirdest piece of garbage they’ve ever seen Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go  Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.