Walmart CEO’s Leadership Tips for Success

Intermediate | September 14, 2025

✨ Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

How to Lead with Purpose: Lessons from Walmart’s CEO

Have you ever wondered how a leader of a huge company makes decisions? On September 8, 2025, Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon shared some practical Walmart CEO leadership tips on leading teams well. These ideas are helpful for anyone — whether you’re managing a class project, working with a team, or planning your future career.

Listening Closely

McMillon emphasized the importance of listening closely to people — whether they are customers, employees, or teammates. When you listen well, you often understand problems before they become bigger issues. He said that good leaders don’t just give orders — they pay attention to what’s going on around them. (facebook.com)

Solving Problems Early

Another tip was to try solving problems instead of ignoring them. When challenges come up — maybe a customer complaint, or a miscommunication in your team — dealing with them right away helps you grow as a leader. McMillon believes that stepping into problems with care builds trust and respect. (facebook.com)

Being Ready to Change

McMillon also pointed out that leading means being ready to change. The world moves fast: technology, customer needs, economy — all change. Leaders who succeed are those who adapt, learn, and move forward even when they aren’t sure of everything. He sees it as part of leading well. (finance.yahoo.com)

Sticking to Values in Leadership

Of course, having strong values is key. McMillon talks about Walmart’s core values — things like respect, integrity, service, excellence. When a leader sticks to values, it helps guide decisions. When things get difficult or confusing, values act like a compass. (gsb.stanford.edu)

So, if you want to improve your leadership, try these Walmart CEO leadership tips: listen well, solve problems early, be ready to change, and stick to your values. These tips aren’t just for big companies — they work for teams, clubs, and personal goals too.

Vocabulary

Leadership (noun) – the action of guiding or directing a group.
Example: Good leadership means helping everyone feel heard.
Emphasize (verb) – to give special importance or attention to something.
Example: In the meeting, she emphasized honesty as a key value.
Listening (gerund / noun) – the act of hearing something with thoughtful attention.
Example: Listening closely helped him understand the customer’s problem.
Miscommunication (noun) – a failure to communicate clearly.
Example: Miscommunication between team members caused delays.
Adapt (verb) – to change something to suit new conditions or environments.
Example: We need to adapt our plan as the market changes.
Values (noun) – principles or standards of behavior; what is important in life.
Example: Her values guide how she treats others.
Compass (noun) – a device that shows direction; used metaphorically here.
Example: When I’m unsure what to do, my values are my compass.
Trust (noun) – confidence in someone’s honesty or reliability.
Example: Solving problems quickly builds trust in the team.
Respect (noun) – regard for someone’s feelings, wishes, or rights.
Example: A good leader shows respect for every person’s opinion.
Challenge (noun) – a difficult task or situation.
Example: Taking on a challenge can be scary, but it helps you grow.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

Which of McMillon’s tips do you think is the hardest to practice — listening well, acting fast on problems, adapting, or sticking to values? Why?
Can you think of a time in your life or school where miscommunication caused trouble? How could the advice in the article have helped?
Why is it important for a leader to listen, not just speak? What could happen if a leader does the opposite?
How do values act like a “compass” in difficult situations? Give an example.
If you were leading a team or project, how would you apply one of McMillon’s tips this week?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

What qualities make someone a good leader in your opinion?
How do leaders in business compare with leaders in school or community clubs? Are the challenges different?
What’s harder: solving problems early (before they grow) or adapting to big changes? Why?
Can someone lead well without being in a formal leadership position? How?
How do culture and background (in Korea, or your hometown) shape what people expect from a leader?

Related Idiom or Phrase

“Practice what you preach” – to behave in the same way that you tell others to behave.
Example: If you ask for honesty but then hide mistakes, people won’t trust you. A leader who listens well and solves problems shows they are practicing what they preach.

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This article was inspired by: Yahoo Finance, Facebook video post of Doug McMillon’s leadership advice (facebook.com)