Growing up in a small town outside of Dallas, Scott Kirby spent countless hours playing sports—not just on organized teams but in the neighborhood with friends. Whether it was baseball in the summer, football in the winter, or basketball in someone’s driveway, those unstructured games left a lasting impression on him.
“Actually, some of my favorite athletic memories were in our front yard,” Scott recalled. “Playing sports forces you to count on others and have others count on you.”
Now leading a workforce of 100,000 employees, Scott brings those lessons to his role as United Airlines CEO. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork and maintaining authentic connections with his coworkers. To stay actively engaged, Scott limits his formal meetings to just 20 hours per week, carving out time to connect directly with United employees and gather their advice and input.
“I’m probably one of the only CEOs that has no more than 20 hours of meetings on the calendar,” Scott explained on the podcast. “What I do the rest of the time is either I read or I’m on the phone with people. I’m constantly calling and talking to people to learn and hear what’s going on.”
Scott added that these informal interactions help him gain invaluable insights and a clearer picture of the company. By doing this, he ensures he is leading his team, not just managing it.
In this episode, Scott also shares lessons from his 30-plus years in the aviation industry, where he has held leadership roles at United, America West, US Airways, and American Airlines. Highlights include:
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
Sign up to receive Don Yaeger’s weekly leadership contributions, and be the first to listen to new Corporate Competitor Podcast episodes.