New Microsoft CEO’s letter to employees a mixed bag

Satya Nadella began his first day on the job by sending a letter to employees. He answered some questions they wanted to know, but left out specifics.

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At any company, getting a new CEO can be an exciting yet fearful time. People want to know who he/she is. They want to know more about the person’s philosophy. Most important, employees are concerned as to how their jobs will be impacted.

So as Microsoft named only its third CEO, there was great anticipation, internally and externally, to learn more about Satya Nadella.

Microsoft posted for all to see (employees and the public alike) a lengthy (1,045 words) memo from Nadella designed to give people an idea of who he is and how he thinks. I have to wonder how much of this he wrote and how much was written by communications people skillfully leaning towards the flamboyant.

Overall, it is a well-written effort to help employees understand Nadella and his vision of Microsoft going forward and get them excited about it. The problem is that it is filled with platitudes and short on specifics.

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