May 12, 2021
On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 10:15AM EST I had the pleasure to participate in a video conference with Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company. It lasted about one hour, and I found every minute to be riveting. Any lingering concerns regarding whether a Bronco was the right vehicle for me were washed away.
Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of Jim, but I also learned about several members of the Bronco community who each have a long and rich history with Bronco ownership. Interestingly, I was the only participant without prior Bronco experience. Yet I grew to understand how the Bronco community is actively expanding the tent to welcome newbies like myself to share the culture.
I found it fascinating to learn Jim’s journey in guiding the Bronco during the initial stages. How some members of the Ford leadership team saw value in a modern interpretation and how Jim was instrumental in helping the design team arrive at the final design. Jim was equally proud of how the Ranger platform helped set the stage for the Bronco. Without both the platform and the final design we may have lost an opportunity to connect the Bronco to its rich history.
As you would expect, Jim is very much a hands-on leader who has spent hours behind the wheel of a Bronco. When asked for his impressions, there was no hesitation. Jim understands how many households may not be able to afford multiple vehicles. They seek off-road adventures, but also need a good daily driver. Jim was extremely impressed with how the Bronco is both a superb off-road vehicle and a great daily driver. It seemed the meeting was energized with his enthusiasm.
Clearly, Jim had a mission to accomplish. He wanted to learn what each of the participants planned to do with our Broncos. As we each took a turn speaking, it was clear we all understood the special opportunity Bronco ownership will provide. Jim seemed pleased with our responses.
With the information sharing component of the meeting complete, Jim offered a moment of reflection. It was clear he feels a burden of responsibility to delivery Broncos which exceed our expectations. He also was genuinely grateful for the trust all potential owners have given him and the Ford Motor Company.
Needless to say, I found it to be an incredibly good day to be a potential Bronco owner.
Epilogue
Over the years I have worked with many company CEOs. Some have a clear vision for their organization and possess an ability to structure their thoughts to make the vision a reality. Jim is clearly one of those CEOs.
Great CEOs need to function at the 50,000-foot level. No one else in the company can soar at that level. With your head in the clouds, you can easily lose sight of your vision’s implementation. That is when targeted meetings are organized.
During these challenging times for the rollout of the Bronco, some of you may wonder if additional clarity on the rollout was obtained during the meeting. Although we all have questions and seek answers, that was not the purpose of the meeting.
I believe each participant came away from that meeting with a richer understanding of Jim. In many ways, that far exceeded my expectations.
Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of Jim, but I also learned about several members of the Bronco community who each have a long and rich history with Bronco ownership. Interestingly, I was the only participant without prior Bronco experience. Yet I grew to understand how the Bronco community is actively expanding the tent to welcome newbies like myself to share the culture.
I found it fascinating to learn Jim’s journey in guiding the Bronco during the initial stages. How some members of the Ford leadership team saw value in a modern interpretation and how Jim was instrumental in helping the design team arrive at the final design. Jim was equally proud of how the Ranger platform helped set the stage for the Bronco. Without both the platform and the final design we may have lost an opportunity to connect the Bronco to its rich history.
As you would expect, Jim is very much a hands-on leader who has spent hours behind the wheel of a Bronco. When asked for his impressions, there was no hesitation. Jim understands how many households may not be able to afford multiple vehicles. They seek off-road adventures, but also need a good daily driver. Jim was extremely impressed with how the Bronco is both a superb off-road vehicle and a great daily driver. It seemed the meeting was energized with his enthusiasm.
Clearly, Jim had a mission to accomplish. He wanted to learn what each of the participants planned to do with our Broncos. As we each took a turn speaking, it was clear we all understood the special opportunity Bronco ownership will provide. Jim seemed pleased with our responses.
With the information sharing component of the meeting complete, Jim offered a moment of reflection. It was clear he feels a burden of responsibility to delivery Broncos which exceed our expectations. He also was genuinely grateful for the trust all potential owners have given him and the Ford Motor Company.
Needless to say, I found it to be an incredibly good day to be a potential Bronco owner.
Epilogue
Over the years I have worked with many company CEOs. Some have a clear vision for their organization and possess an ability to structure their thoughts to make the vision a reality. Jim is clearly one of those CEOs.
Great CEOs need to function at the 50,000-foot level. No one else in the company can soar at that level. With your head in the clouds, you can easily lose sight of your vision’s implementation. That is when targeted meetings are organized.
During these challenging times for the rollout of the Bronco, some of you may wonder if additional clarity on the rollout was obtained during the meeting. Although we all have questions and seek answers, that was not the purpose of the meeting.
I believe each participant came away from that meeting with a richer understanding of Jim. In many ways, that far exceeded my expectations.
bdawson24, jakecovert