Cisco Systems CEO Chuck Robbins said he is the most responsive person in the company and the fastest messenger on his team [1, 2].
This approach to communication reflects a broader leadership strategy to drive organizational performance through speed. By modeling rapid response times, Robbins intends to establish a high-velocity culture that permeates the workforce and influences how the company operates internally.
Robbins believes that setting this pace is essential for the company's overall momentum. He specifically looks for this trait when recruiting new talent, seeking employees who demonstrate the same level of urgency and desire to move [1, 2].
"I try to set that pace for people," Robbins said [1].
This emphasis on speed comes as Cisco continues to manage its scale as a global technology leader. The company has a history of massive scaling, with annual revenue growing from $1.2 billion to $48 billion under the previous CEO [3].
"I'm the fastest messenger on my team," Robbins said [2].
By prioritizing responsiveness in his hiring criteria, the CEO is aligning his personnel strategy with his personal operational style. He views the ability to move quickly not just as a personal habit, but as a professional requirement for those joining his immediate circle [1, 2].
“"I try to set that pace for people."”
Robbins is implementing a 'lead-by-example' management style where communication speed serves as a proxy for productivity and agility. By integrating this requirement into the hiring process, Cisco is attempting to institutionalize urgency to prevent the bureaucratic slowdown often associated with large-scale corporations.
