Interview with Ricardo Semler

Interview with Ricardo Semler, Chairman of Brazilian Company Semco, a democratic workplace. Aired on Australian ABC television 7:30 Report March 2007
Check out this video for a tour of SEMCO:
• Video

[@jonathanlbarnes]

I am currently reading Maverick and it really does seem that Ricardo Semler is a legend! I mean, it's just inspiring really! He just inspires me so much! To create a working environment where people feel truly valued and have a say in the way their everyday lives are lead is fantastic and is healthy! We work most of our lives, that's why this is important! Democratic Management is incredible and the development of soft skills is an important factor in this! Thank you for such a great video! Jon

[@seulment]

not sure how many below have actually read Maverick and The Seven Day Weekend where he goes into detail how he did it. Treat adults as adults, and for the most part, they make the right decision. Associates help make the choices. They feel as if they hold an integral part to the success of the company. The amazing thing about the philosophy is it works in life and business. Semler is worth looking up to. Easy to criticize for those who think people are inherently evil.

[@chlabreu]

Indeed you are right in one point. Democracy in corporations only works as far as it is profitable. And the fact is that Semler's company has been very profitable compared to others in the same market and economic scenario. And he believes that is because of the democratic philosophy they adopted. So, he is not forcing democracy against profit. Instead, the point is he is making profit through democracy, which seems weird for many of us.

[@BritishMuseumtours]

A inspiring video, highlighting the military mind set in business was a graphic revelation and his openess to the future a joy to wittiness.

[@Fiscus128]

I think Mr. Semler has some really good ideas. Of course you need a clear business mission, systems and and an organizational structure to execute such a business model consistently. People have both individual responsibilities as well as responsibilities for the group as a whole. Ultimately it boils down to bringing together and working with people that fit in the business culture and stimulating cross function communication and collaboration.

[@forestsoceansmusic]

Summerhill (founded & presided over by A. S. Neill) was a school that ran very successfully on these principles in the 1950s, '60s & early '70s. I also heard Volvo's factories were organised like this in the 1970s? And yep, I've had many supervisors over the years who I thought were ex-military or should've been there.

[@IanRidgwell]

How is the desire to become wealthy not conceptually evil. One can only be wealthy if someone else is poor. You can only achieve at the cost of someone else. Capitalism. Thats not to say Semler is evil, nor that he lives to a strict capitalist view point. A friend pointed out the changes in his work place seem to run parallel to anarchism. Which makes sense in hind site, much more like anarchistic reform than democratic reform. Also, no comment is pointless.

[@banjo234]

His schools work along the lines of A.S. Neill's Summerhill in the UK. Excellent stuff.

[@seulment]

@ Ghost - Define greed first and foremost. Read his books, he is a capitalist, he made money while increasing the quality of life of those who work for him, he truly cares about his workers and their children. The desire to become wealthy is not evil in and of itself. Semler made his fortune while taking care of his workers, his community and his country. Semler would not cave to the kickbacks and bribery. Until you read the books, refrain from making pointless comments.

[@CUMBICA1970]

@ghostofanonion "One can only be wealthy if someone else is poor." This assumption is ultimately true. It's simple math. Take example the US: they have arguably the world's highest average income and still 40+ million live in poverty. Even if they double this average I'm 100% sure this structure will remain the same. And I'm not even counting the old trick of transferring production sites overseas but those workers (though 100% involved in the organization) conveniently hid from the stat.

[@nick32145]

Huge fan, truly unique

[@epalacioh]

where i can to find this book online?

[@elentwin]

There is only one way... to get anybody to do anything. And that is by making the other person want to do it. Dale Carnegie Seems like follower of this, too. Superb.

[@Hightreewalker]

Excellent. Proof that humanity needs no or less management. Some people may like to be 'managed' and that's OK, too. But I allways hated the principle of others misusing their power over others. It's so narrowminded and based on fears of loosing control, in many cases. You don't need to tell a gentle flower how to grow do you... that's crap

[@IanRidgwell]

@clubnaj Two people is not an economy, neither are rich. Fish are food, the amount being cought is wastefull. We need to add people and create an 'economy' to talk about wealth. If you'd like I'd be happy to discuss via e-mail however ! The entrepenuer will make something from 0 work, the fisherman will lose. The entrepenuer has lowered the skill requirement to fish so now more unskilled labour can take from the same resource. The fishermans worth has decreased against the worth of the tool.

[@Subosi]

True, they both became wealthier. But while there was no difference before, so they were neutral, now they can be measured as wealthier and poorer. Not directly meaning the other one has a terrible life. But he is relatively poor in comparison. And you drilled in an other interesting topic, consumorism. They were clearly able to survive on 1 fish each day till the point where they made a net. So now they are oversuplying themselves. To what end? For the sake of having more?

[@chlabreu]

I see no causal relation from democracy to egalitarism. Aren't those orthogonal concepts? I see no obligation for one to boost egalitarism every time she boosts democracy, as many people think.

[@semcostyleinstituteusa]

Interested in Ricardo Semler's approach to leadership? Often leaders default to traditional management, but that approach is unfortunately outdated. We help you transition and make work awesome. Check out the upcoming live events, certification programs and consulting services at semcostyle.us/events/ We are the official representers of Ricardo Semler in the USA.

[@BayStateObserver]

@clubnaj Well put. Well put indeed!

[@cral1972]

Very interesting

[@kartikm24]

but there is another side that doesn't run on it and works with tremendous success.

[@KarmaLlama1]

There's a limited number of fish as there is cash

[@IanRidgwell]

@clubnaj Why pay the fisherman anything, when you can fish for yourself 4 fish a day minus 1 for the net. Don't get me wrong I'm all for invention. Just simplifying these equations dosn't work.

[@elentwin]

Does he realise that the almost the whole business world runs on military paradigm management & carrots stuff? In the 21 st century !!!

[@MrsTashus]

poor fish

[@MadeinChinakiki]

haha i predict i will be hospital with cancer in 5 years from now

[@Liberr]

@indefiance24 Hooray for marginal utility!

[@IanRidgwell]

This seem s less like a democracy, and more like a socialism.

[@aaldrikbakker]

Well it seems like that so called 'socialism' works better then the capitalism. People have money + free time + commplete anotomy. I wouldn't trade that for capitalism.