Leaders are leaders because they have qualities that set them apart from the rest, but what makes some leaders stand out from the rest? One characteristic is his capacity for innovation and that is why we will talk about Ricardo Semler.
Ricardo Semler is a Brazilian businessman. He is Chairman of SEMCO PARTNERS and has revolutionized the way companies are run. Ironically, his control philosophy is based on having almost no rules.
His methods have been replicated by major companies like Netflix and renowned businessmen like Richard Branson.
By giving his employees more freedom, he was able to increase SEMCO’s revenue between 1982 and 2003 from $4 million to $212 million.
Countless nominations and awards have recognized his way of working. He is also known for the success of his books; such as the bestseller titled The Seven Day Weekend.
Origin of the thought of Ricardo Semler.
It all started when more than 30 years ago he began to ask himself a series of questions about the distribution of life. He came to the conclusion that when we have a lot of money, we don’t have time to do things. And when we have the time, we don’t have the money.
Thinking about that, and about giving the best conditions to its employees; he decided to change company policies. For example, buying for their employees (if they wanted to) every Wednesday of the month for 10% of their salary. In this way they would have the possibility of having Wednesdays off.
+ Innovative ideas by Ricardo Semler.
Upon entering the company, as in many companies, employees are given a welcome manual. In the case of Semco, it is a manual of survival in which the incredible position they decided to adopt against the management of the company is glimpsed.
These are some of the policies they handle:
- They prefer to replace the term “employees” with “people”.
- The time that people work is decided by themselves. They simply have to stick to the goals; Giving each person responsibility.
- Bosses are chosen by their subordinates. And they are subjected to qualification every 6 months. If they do not have 70% or 80% approval, they are dismissed.
- Anyone who has previously worked at SEMCO; will be welcome again.
- People can go to work at any of the SEMCO offices without having to report their location.
- At SEMCO, no one is essential, so free time and vacations are controlled by each person.
Seeing the need to create a world with access to wisdom, he ventured into the world of education and created Lumiar. A school that has excellent results in Brazil, where children are not divided by age, but by ability.
If a 6-year-old is ready, he can watch classes with 11-year-olds. In this way they attack a problem that afflicts all educational institutions: gangs.
A reflection of SEMCO’s policies, it is “the circle”. A space where children meet to discuss the rules that will govern them. Interestingly, they choose the same ones that are already established, but with a big difference, now it’s your rules. To learn more about Lumiar, click here.
What else can we learn from Ricardo Semler.
Semler wonders if anyone on their deathbed regrets not spending more time working. His conclusion is that we should not wait to make changes in our lives.
His projects are successful because he was not afraid of change.
What are you waiting for to make positive changes in your life and your projects? If you want to know more about Ricardo Semler you can watch the video below:
And remember, if you are really interested in creating your own business, you can read our book “How to create a company while working: Discover how to manage your time, manage your money and motivate yourself while creating a company and working for another” , where you will find all the information you need to found your own company, without having to leave your job.
