Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain: Ford’s Bold Moves Campaign

Posted on Monday, September 11, 2006 by Frank Roche

In a brillant (and risky) business move, Ford Motor Company recently launched their total transparency program, Bold Moves. Here’s what it’s about:

Ford's BoldMovesFord Bold Moves is a video documentary series that takes you inside Ford Motor Company as it attempts one of the largest corporate turnarounds in history. With candid interviews from Ford executives, employees, industry experts and even Ford detractors, Bold Moves approaches each segment from every angle and keeps asking the question: Will Ford succeed?

Bold Moves also involves you in the actual corporate decision-making process—allowing you to engage, debate and discuss what you think is relevant. Register with the site and you’ll be able to join the Bold Moves community, post comments, rate content and even download videos to post on your blog. [Snip]

Bold Moves is interactive, so it relies on you and an enthusiastic community of users to fuel the discussion and shape future episodes. Venture into the site and become a part of Bold Moves today.

Ford’s future depends on it.

If Bold Moves is indicative of where Ford is going, I’m going long on “F”. Unflinching truth. Unvarnished transparency. Unwavering fearlessness. “We’re at a turning point in this company. And we’re here to rip out the BS, to rip out the political postuing, get the issues on the table and stop the conflict. We’re going to pull back the curtain,” is the theme of the BoldMoves Intro. It looks like the real thing.

It takes guts to “pull back the curtain.” All too often we see companies hold back information until “all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.” But waiting doesn’t work. Hesitiating is for the timid. What works is treating people like adults. Telling the truth. Being optimistic and realisitic at the same time. Listening. Ford’s doing that with Bold Moves. And I’m rooting for them.

My little morning fantasy is doing an HR-related “BoldMoves” campaign. Now that would be fun. The future belongs to the bold.

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