Accompanying an article he wrote for FORTUNE magazine, James Dyson provides what is characterized as his “best advice.” It is well worth our careful consideration:

PRODUCT IS KING

“Whatever your product is, make sure everyone in the company understands the product. We have every employee on their first day make a vacuum cleaner — even if you’re working in customer service.”

Comment: I presume to add, especially if the new hire is working in customer service.

BAN MEMOS

“People live off memos and emails and doin’t speak to one another. Thwe real value of interaction occurs when we meet each other at work, spark off each other, argue with each other. That’s when creative things happen. Having a philosophy of disliking memos and emails is healthy.”

Comment: Think about the human mind as a sword. You cannot sharpen it by rubbing it against velvet.

LISTEN

“Create an open environment where everyone’s involved and appreciated. If you don’t put people dpwm for making a silly suggestion, you can get great ideas. A lot of great new ideas come from silly suggestions or wrong suggestions.”

Comment: In the workplace culture within which personal growth and professional development are most likely to thrive, the only “dumb” idea is the one not shared. Brainstorming sessions at Pixar, for example, are open to anyone who’s interested in the given topic.

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Sir James Dyson OM CBE FRS FREng is a British inventor, industrial designer and founder of the Dyson company. He is best known as the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. To learn more about this brilliant innovator, please click here.