Leaving behind a legacy of excellence: Dartmouth-based Tom Peters retires from writing

SOUTH DARTMOUTH — For decades, Tom Peters has been a leading figure in the business world, not only for his successful 1982 book "In Search of Excellence," but for ahead-of-his-time insights and ideas for strategic thinking and human resource management.

This year, Peters announced he was retiring, but said he hopes his legacy will continue on through his books, specifically his wise words on the power of thank-you, support and kindness to one another in the workplace.

"A simple thank-you and a word of hope can have a powerful impact... hardworking individuals who have been dedicating themselves to their work. Just a few words, whether it's in person or through electronic communication, can make a difference," Peter said.

"And I can promise you, with all the evidence from academic studies, that this is not just a nice sentiment. Real data shows that these actions lead to positive results."

For example, Peters said that studies have shown that when a doctor maintains eye contact for a certain amount of time during a conversation, it lowers complications and hospital stays.

More: Retired to renowned: Local embroidery artist opens first exhibit at New Bedford Art Museum

"Even something as simple as a teacher greeting students at the door can improve academic performance and decrease bad behavior incidents," he added.

Reflecting back his career, he said he learned from the best, but was never taught any social skills or way to collaborate with a team of people in his studies.

"I can do accounting and build bridges with my eyes closed. But nobody told me that people are important when you build a bridge," he said, explaining the origin of his "excellence" concept.

"I thought if a ballet can be excellent, why can't a business. It's just not the kinds of words we use."

Becoming the man all about the 'excellence'

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1942, Peters earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Cornell University in 1964, followed by a master's degree in 1966. Serving for the United States Navy from 1966 to 1970, he completed two deployments to Vietnam as a Navy Seabee before working at the Pentagon.

In 1970, he studied business at Stanford Business School and received both an MBA and a PhD in Organizational Behavior.

His dissertation, titled "Patterns of Winning and Losing: Effects on Approach and Avoidance by Friends and Enemies," inspired Karl Weick's renowned 1984 article, "Small wins: Redefining the scale of social problems."

He then worked as a senior drug-abuse advisor at the White House during the Nixon administration. From 1974 to 1981, he was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, eventually becoming a partner and leader of the Organization Effectiveness practice in 1979.

More: The Black Whale prepares a major renovation to its restaurant. Here's what's changing.

Peter's 1982 "In Search of Excellence," became a national bestseller and was later accompanied by a series on PBS. The main ideas were centered on solving business challenges with minimal processes and empowering decision-makers at all levels, according to Peters.

Peters went on to publish other works such as "Thriving on Chaos," "The Excellence Dividend," and "Excellence Now: Extreme Humanism."

In 2017, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by "Thinkers50" for his significant contributions to the "thought leadership" and business book industries.

Leaving behind his legacy to the younger generation

Having done 2,700 speeches in 63 countries, Peter will be the first to admit that he may not have loved every single one, but overall enjoyed the opportunity to talk to people and share his ideas.

He believes that even if only a few people are inspired or changed by his speeches, it is a successful day for him.

With his numerous books and presentations, Peters has inspired and empowered countless people to reach their full potential. Now, as he approaches the end of his career, he is focused on leaving behind a lasting legacy that will continue to impact and motivate others long after he's gone.

"Negative feedback is very hard to give, but it's often what we need to hear the most," he said, as one of the takeaways he hopes people understand.

Throughout his career, Peters has never shied away from challenging the status quo and speaking the truth, even if it's uncomfortable. And that is something that sets him apart from other authors and speakers in the industry.

More: A green space in the middle of the city: Thallo continues to grow on Union Street

“One negative person can pollute a big organization,” said Peters. "There's importance of not only hiring for skills and qualifications, but also for attitude and mindset."

But Peters also believes that it's possible to create a positive and productive work culture. He points to Google, where he claims that their best employees and teams have one thing in common — they listen to each other's ideas and value collaboration.

"Leadership and management play a crucial role in driving success," he said, adding that leaders have direct and intimate contact with their employees, vendors and customers to truly understand their needs and concerns.

"Building a sense of community within a company can also lead to a happier and more productive workforce."

Peters hopes that people will take away the importance of honest feedback, positive work culture, and the power of effective leadership.

And with these lessons, the world can continue to thrive and achieve success.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Dartmouth-based author Tom Peters retiring from writing