Preston Poore explains his leadership thesis: how you lead matters more than what you achieve. Drawing on 30 years in consumer brands like Coca‑Cola and Hershey, Preston shares stories of failure, transformation, and practical steps—360 feedback, coaching, and self-awareness—to build healthier workplaces.
He also discusses integrating faith and humility into daily leadership, why results are table stakes, and how focusing on the "how" creates stronger teams, engagement, and lasting impact.
Dan Cooper introduces the show and Acumen, which serves CEOs and business owners.
Preston is introduced as “the how guy,” with 30 years of leadership experience at Coca-Cola, Hershey, and Ralston Purina.
He shares his background, marriage, kids, and new role as a grandfather.
Preston explains the motivation behind How Is Greater Than What: frustration with toxic workplaces and “tyrannical” leadership.
He admits he once led that way himself—results-driven, people-blind—and reached a tipping point in 2005 that forced him to reexamine how he led.
His message: “How you do something matters more than what you do.”
Preston recounts a Coca-Cola event gone wrong—bad weather, poor communication, wrong product, even a Pepsi logo in the featured movie (Remember the Titans).
Furious, he blamed everyone else.
A VP later told him: “It’s not what you did, it’s how you did it.”
That conversation became a pivotal moment in his leadership journey.
During company reorganizations, Preston noticed that leaders who focused only on results were usually let go.
Those who balanced results and relationships—culture, trust, engagement—were the ones retained and promoted.
Reinforces the core theme: how you lead matters most.
Dan asks about one question from the book: “What does it feel like to be on the other side of my leadership?”
Preston shares how painful 360° feedback helped him see blind spots.
Encourages leaders to assess values, reputation, team engagement, and whether people genuinely want to follow them.
Notes: 70% of workplace engagement comes from the manager.
After losing two team members, Preston’s boss told him, “Your people skills stink.”
He hired an executive coach, who helped him recognize personal triggers (e.g., frustration, disrespect).
He learned that the common denominator in his issues was himself.
Over time, his leadership shifted from self-focused to people-focused, creating better culture and engagement.
Reflects on this as a process of sanctification—an inner transformation.
Dan notes Acumen’s “plain glass before stained glass” approach to faith.
Preston shares how he surrendered his life to Christ early, but not his career until 2005.
Describes realizing he couldn’t live with separate “Sunday faith” and “Monday leadership.”
Compares his journey to Moses’ 40-year transformation—learning humility in the desert before leading others.
Both men reflect on how earlier versions of themselves (“first company Dan/Preston”) were driven but self-centered.
Preston describes his retirement celebration at Coca-Cola—coworkers remembered not his results but his relationships.
“Lord, we did this right,” he wrote in his journal.
His takeaway: lead from a better place, and the results—and people—will follow.
Lighthearted exchange about candy and soda: Preston gained weight at Hershey, lost it at Coke.
Encourages moderation and humility in leadership and life.
Thanks Dan for the conversation.
Website: prestonpoore.com
Book: How Is Greater Than What (includes workbook and reflection questions).
Dan closes by inviting listeners to explore Acumen membership and additional leadership resources.