Bill McDermott, the CEO of ServiceNow, is known for his intense handshake. When he first took over as CEO in 2019, he made a point to meet all 7,000 employees and shake hands with each one of them.
McDermott believes that the first handshake is crucial and advises salespeople to make sure they are the last one to let go when meeting a client. He views handshakes as a way to show that you care and are present in the moment.
In a recent interview with Fortune, McDermott shared insights into his leadership style. He revealed that he only sleeps for five hours a night, wakes up early, reads the news, exercises, and walks his dog before starting his workday.
Under McDermott’s leadership, ServiceNow has experienced significant growth, with 26,000 employees and revenues of $2.8 billion per quarter. The company provides AI-driven enterprise software services to clients like IBM, KPMG, and Deloitte.
McDermott is not a fan of remote working and believes that people work best in person. He encouraged ServiceNow employees to return to the office and emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in a physical workspace.
McDermott trusts his team and believes in delegating responsibilities to experts in their respective fields. He values trust as the ultimate currency in leadership and encourages his team to be customer-oriented and innovative in their approach.
Despite challenges of scaling the company from 7,000 employees to 26,000, McDermott sees it as an opportunity for growth and building a strong company culture. He views challenges as opportunities for improvement and does not shy away from tackling difficult situations head-on.
