CommLog

The most recent Fortune has an article by Jim Collins titled “The 10 Greatest CEOs of All Time.” They are:

1. Charles Coffin, GE
2. Bill Allen, Boeing
3. Sam Walton, Wal-Mart
4. George Merck, Merck & Co.
5. Darwin Smith, Kimberly-Clark
6. James Burke, J&J
7. David Maxwell, Fannie Mae
8. William McKnight, 3M
9. Katharine Graham, Washington Post Co.
10. David Packard, Hewlett-Packard

One can argue the validity of such a list. What one can’t argue, however, is that these leaders, to almost the person, worked very hard to communicate a single vision and strategy to employees, and then backed that strategy message up with policy decisions.

They also sought to communicate something else: that the business valued and respected its employees. In the words of David Packard:

"We have a responsibility to our employees to recognize their dignity as human beings."

Read the article and the profiles here (a Fortune.com subscription is required).