The unedited transcript of Phalana Tiller's interviews with A. G. Lafley and Craig Wynett for the November 2011 episode of Drucker on the Dial entitled "The ABC's of P&G: Lessons on Leading and Learning." First, A. G. Lafley, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Procter & Gamble, discusses chief executive succession planning and the responsibilities of boards of directors. Lafley explains that it was his job to help identify, develop, and train as many candidates as possible. He describes the "science" of finding the right CEO as good talent identification, good development and training techniques, assignment planning, coaching, and mentoring. Lafley says that the "art" of finding the right CEO is human judgment, and the ability to match an individual with the needs of an industry and company. He shares how he got to know Peter Drucker, and his time listening and batting questions around with him. Lafley says that since his retirement from Procter & Gamble, he has been trying to learn how to live the third chapter of his life. Lafley goes on to say that he would like to be remembered for trying to work hard to do the right thing, and for making a small, but meaningful difference. Next, Craig Wynett talks about his role as the Chief Innovation Officer or Chief Learning Officer at Procter & Gamble. He says that he has been lucky enough to work on a few successful things like the Swiffer mop. Wynett also says that he has been focused on the know-how and not simply the output. He recalls how Peter Drucker told him that innovation is an activity, and not a gift, and explains two types of learning. Wynett discusses the opposing ideas of consistency and change, and how to maintain efficiency, but create innovation as well. Wynett says that he met Drucker through George Harris, and that Drucker had brilliant one liners that Wynett would report back to Procter & Gamble. Wynett believes that innovation happens because of everything you do as a company, and that when it comes to innovation, it is no accident. Wynett thinks that rather than making innovation more special, it needs to be made more normal or ordinary. He goes on to say that instead of being remembered for helping people be better thinkers, he would like to be remembered for putting a pause in their automatic thinking.
Interviews Lafley, A. G. (Alan G.) Wynett, Craig Authorship Procter & Gamble Company Chief financial officers Boards of directors Books Consultants Education Harris, T. George, 1924- Creative ability Executives
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