How Jim Weddle grows Edward Jones by empowering his leaders to make a difference

Get out there
With thousands of offices, Weddle can’t just talk about culture
through e-mail or video clips. He has to take the message directly
to employees, and that means getting out of the corporate headquarters.
Weddle schedules regular visits to branch offices in the United
States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The meetings are an
opportunity for Weddle to share, face to face, what is happening in
the company, but they also provide a chance for him to hear questions and engage in dialogue.
“We’re not out there giving speeches,” Weddle says. “We’re out
there asking questions. It gives people the opportunity to provide
input, and I think they appreciate being asked.”
Members of Weddle’s management team are also part of the
process. This allows for more offices to be visited, which gives the
company’s leadership more feedback than Weddle could get on his
own.
“We want to know how we are doing and what are your suggestions for things that we can make better,” Weddle says. “What are
your suggestions for things that we’re not doing at all but, in fact,
should? Can you provide us some input in terms of how the home
office is meeting your needs and supporting your efforts to service
the client?”
In providing opportunities for feedback, you must keep an open
mind when it comes to the responses you get.
“You have to solicit input, and you have to ask,” Weddle says.
“When they provide it to you, accept it for what it is. It’s feedback.
You may agree. You may disagree. But listen to the feedback. Don’t
criticize. Don’t argue. Some you may think is accurate and some
not, but you asked for the feedback. Be open about it.”
Post-meeting discussions are critical to connect the dots on what
was heard and to coordinate action plans to get the best ideas
implemented.
The series of group meetings also provides Weddle with a natural launch point to talk with regional leaders about the importance
of teamwork.
“Let’s help each other to be successful,” Weddle says. “If we’ve
got four offices in a community, let’s do joint seminars. Let’s advertise together. Let’s attack this market opportunity as a team and
not just as four individuals. We’re far stronger. We’re looking for
people that fit and want to be part of a larger organization that has
a good reputation that they can be proud of but that they can also
contribute to.”