Boeing CEO’s Choked-Up Message Walks a Careful Line
The prospect of being sucked out of a faulty airplane at 16,000 feet is enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes. But showing emotion is tricky for leaders.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun appeared emotional as he discussed the damage to one of his company’s planes.
Image: Boeing
Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun got emotional at an all-hands meeting as he described the hole blown into the side of one of his company’s planes. I admit to being skeptical when I first read about his public display of feelings. “Oh, come on,” I thought, “Just fix the planes.” Then I watched the video.
“I didn’t know what happened to whoever was supposed to be in that seat next to that hole in the airplane,” said Calhoun, before pausing and apparently changing tacks. His eyes suddenly looking very wet, he blurted out, “I got kids, and I got grandkids, and so do you.”