Judie Taylor is president of DUECO Inc., a third-generation, family-owned utility truck manufacturing business in Waukesha.
The company has more than 350 employees. The firm’s vision statement is, “We have a burning desire to take care of our customers and team members… for the purpose of MAKING A DIFFERENCE in the utility and related industries.”
Judie Taylor
President
DUECO Inc.
Waukesha
www.dueco.com
“Today, so much pressure is placed on management to achieve the numbers, provide stockholder value, formulate cost reduction strategies, and maximize the bottom line… and rightly so. Optimal performance is what every company desires. But, what if all of those things would fall into place if you first and foremost, focused on the people? If you believe in the people, and as a coach or mentor, help your team members to achieve their very best, then will the desired financial outcome follow? Robert Greenleaf, author and founder of the Servant Leadership concepts, seems to think so. He observed that, over time, there were leaders who were in it for themselves and leaders who were in it for others. The conclusion was that those companies who focused on others were three times more likely to be effective.
“Evidence suggests that when you invest in people by enhancing their lives and their education, when you teach them to think, to challenge, and to provide solutions for customers’ issues, then your business will be that much more effective.
“So, let the people make the difference…day in and day out for your organization. They build relationships, they solve problems, they make decisions and provide solutions, and they take care of your customers. Your people are the ones who determine your organization’s accomplishments. Go ahead and make a difference – have a burning desire to take care of your people. I do.”
