Verizon’s CEO, Hans Vestman, recently divulged an unconventional strategy he employs to maintain his peak performance at work, which includes meticulously tracking his daily mood in a spreadsheet for over a decade. Vestman shared his insights at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival in New York during a conversation with Mansueto Ventures CEO, Stephanie Mehta.
According to Vestman, “If you want to lead others effectively, you must begin with self-leadership.” As part of his daily routine, he rates his previous day’s state of mind on a scale from one to ten, a practice he uses to set the right tone and energy for the day ahead.
Here’s what each score signifies, as reported by CNBC:
1 to 2 – Indicates that Vestman wasn’t in the right mindset to collaborate with others, prompting him to “stay in his office” and work independently the following day.
3 to 7 – This range represents an ideal score when he feels “energized” and most productive.
8 to 10 – A score above eight signifies an abundance of energy, to the extent that it might overwhelm colleagues rather than energize them.
Vestman, who is 58 years old, integrated this ritual into his morning routine back in 2009 when he assumed the role of CEO at Ericsson. Remarkably, he has faithfully followed this practice every day since, even maintaining a spreadsheet to track his daily scores throughout this extensive period.
When Vestman became Verizon’s CEO in 2018, he continued this practice, monitoring his daily work activities and openly sharing this data with fellow executives while encouraging them to do the same. This systematic approach to daily ranking, he believes, fortifies his leadership capabilities.
Additionally, Vestman initiated a “boss contract” when he joined Verizon, outlining five key objectives he aimed to achieve. He presented these goals in a white paper to the company’s board of directors.
Vestberg’s distinctive leadership approach extends beyond his personal rituals. He shared insights on how he prioritizes employee satisfaction, highlighting his practice of maintaining a list of the 30 most influential individuals within and outside Verizon. These individuals receive weekly calls from Vestman to extract maximum commitment from his staff and foster closer collaboration among colleagues.
Vestman’s unorthodox yet effective leadership techniques offer a fresh perspective on enhancing workplace performance and nurturing a positive work environment.