Founder connections
- Jason FriedReading influenceAsked which book most influenced him while building the business, Fried names Semler’s book and says it gave them permission to do things their own way. His exact edition and reading date are not stated.Source
Summary
Ricardo Semler describes a different way to run Semco, built around wider employee control. The book covers workers making decisions once left to managers, access to the company’s financial information and teams setting their own targets and schedules. It also describes a move away from formal meetings, memos and approvals. These practices form Semler’s account of changing one company’s management, rather than a promise that the same choices fit every business.
Why read it Our view
Useful for testing where your company needs approval and where staff can decide. Consider what information people need to make those choices and which rules protect real needs.