Respect: The Foundation of Trust
Respect, according to Dimon, is essential for effective leadership. He explains that employees follow leaders they respect, but this respect must be earned. “Good people want to work for people they respect, and they will not respect those who take all the credit and share none of the blame,” Dimon writes. By building trust through honesty, character, and accountability, leaders can create a culture where mutual respect and collaboration thrive.

Committees: Balancing Collaboration with Efficiency
Dimon believes committees can be powerful tools for decision-making—if used correctly. Reflecting on the London Whale trading scandal, he suggests it could have been prevented with a proper committee review. While committees provide checks and balances, Dimon warns they shouldn’t stifle leadership or slow innovation. Effective committees encourage diverse viewpoints, avoiding groupthink while enhancing problem-solving and risk assessment.

A Clear Vision with Consistency
Leaders must have a clear, consistent vision that aligns with their team’s efforts, says Dimon. He emphasizes that employees can quickly detect when leaders’ actions don’t match their words. Leaders should communicate an objective that resonates and set an example by working “in the trenches” with their team. “People quickly pick up on management saying one thing but doing another,” Dimon warns, urging leaders to create unity through alignment between vision and actions.

Leading with Empathy
At the core of Dimon’s leadership is empathy. He illustrates this by recalling a mistake JPMorgan made in cutting healthcare for security staff, which he later reversed. Dimon believes true success requires fairness, stressing that leadership should prioritize employees’ well-being. “JPMorgan Chase’s success will not be built off the backs of our guards—it will be the result of fair treatment of all of our employees,” he writes. Showing compassion fosters loyalty and commitment, building stronger bonds with employees.