Leading in Times of Challenge with Dan Houston
Principal Financial Group CEO Dan Houston has faced challenges and overcome obstacles in his position with the company. Dan is also a former chair of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s executive board, as well as a member of the Business Roundtable, made up of the largest employers in the country, and the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
Dan Houston's Leadership Tips
Dan explains how Principal has transitioned to working remotely during COVID-19. Over the course of three days, Principal has moved 97% of employees situated to serve customers from their own homes.
Dan reflects on how Principal began the implementation of a new record keeping system for the retirement division back in the ‘90s. Sixty days into the implementation, they realized the system would be more difficult to put in place than originally thought. At that point, Dan says they had to decide whether to push forward or revert to the old system. They decided to make it work. It took a year to become stable on that platform. From that experience, Dan learned about servant leadership, communication, creating focused teams and the importance of milestones, measurements and metrics.
The Leading in Times of Challenge podcast was previously produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. To learn more about community events and leadership, check out The Partnership blog.
Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 6,700 Regional Business Members, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.