Neutron Jack's better legacies

Welch had the less-acknowledged talent of working productively with people he didn't get along with and meticulously planning his succession

Jack Welch, who died on March 1, enjoyed hallowed following among India’s male-dominated, mostly family-owned business universe for his macho, John Wayne approach to management, an image he did much to nurture carefully. Everybody, whether owner-managers or professional managers, wished they could be like “Neutron” Jack, abrasive, straight-talking, hiring and firing and closing businesses at will (of course, Indian labour laws make the last activity near-impossible). But it is a pity that few choose to emulate their idol’s less-acknowledged governance talents: Working productively with people he didn’t get along with and meticulously planning his succession.
 
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