Alan Mulally: Turning Ford Around with Humility and Open Hands
- andres8314
- May 29
- 1 min read
When Alan Mulally became CEO of Ford in 2006, the company was on the edge. Sales were plummeting, morale was low, and the culture was fragmented. One of the first things Mulally did wasn’t to cut budgets or issue press statements—it was to gather his top executives in a room and ask them to tell the truth. At first, no one did. Everyone reported green across the board, even as the company was bleeding billions. So he paused. And then he asked again, this time with honesty, humility, and no blame.
What happened next became a turning point. Mark Fields, a senior executive, finally admitted that one of his projects was failing. Instead of reacting with punishment, Mulally clapped. “Thank you for the visibility,” he said. That simple act—celebrating honesty—broke the silence. Slowly, the culture changed. People began sharing problems, asking for help, collaborating instead of competing. Mulally’s consistent, vulnerable leadership created a space where people didn’t have to pretend anymore.
Mulally didn’t lead by domination. He led by invitation. His “Working Together” mantra became more than a slogan—it was a living principle, modeled in every meeting, every conversation. And by being open himself, he made it safe for others to follow. Ford’s comeback wasn’t just financial. It was cultural. It started the moment someone dared to say, “We have a problem,” and someone else responded with, “Thank you.”
Have you ever witnessed a culture shift because someone made vulnerability safe? Would you be open to sharing that experience? We’d love to hear from you. Visit Storia Connect to join the conversation.
Comments