Thread: Delta Culture

This is a memo by Joe Piller, who is on the Delta Board Council. It was in response to some concerns by DL people. I think it says rather well what MOST DL people feel. Posted with permission of Joe Piller.

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Colleagues,



As organizational charts for the new Delta are being published Delta people are asking the Board Council questions concerning Northwest co-workers and how they will fit within the Delta culture. Some have told us, “It seems like we have more Northwest leaders than pre-merger Delta leaders in the new company. Will they carry-on the Delta culture that is legacy and heritage valued by generations of Delta people and customers?”



There is no question the Delta that we know today will most definitely change with the blending of talent from both companies as we combine the strengths of two great airlines into one. I think we can’t forget that the success of Delta is a history of mergers and acquisitions which have changed the business and the culture for the better over time. I know Delta will continue to grow on the foundation we have built over the last 79 years and will now include the best from Northwest. I also believe the new Delta will carry-on the fundamental principles that have made Delta a great airline. As Delta’s founder C.E. Woolman used to say, "This business is nuts and bolts, but it's primarily people. All airlines are alike – only people make them different”. In keeping with Mr. Woolman’s vision, the investment and focus on Delta people is a fundamental principle that will not change.



As I’ve said, Delta people are concerned by the arrival of so many new leaders and co-workers from Northwest. What we have to remember is that no one is really "born" at Delta...well, except for perhaps a few second and third generation Delta people. Most of us come to Delta from somewhere else; PanAm, Western, the military or a company outside of the industry. I think it's more important to see what kind of people these new leaders and co-workers are from Northwest what they believe in and do they have the Delta DNA that makes our culture unique. I think we also have to keep in mind recent successful leaders and colleagues who came to us from other companies. Jerry Grinstein is the perfect example of a leader who was not "born" at Delta. Look at Richard Anderson; he has made a commitment to manage by the values of the Delta culture by putting the guiding principles of the foundation of this great company in writing with “Rules of the Road”.



For Delta people who fear Delta's culture will be unrecognizable in a couple of years because of the merger I think we’ll see that some aspects of Delta's culture will certainly change like it did with previous mergers in our history. But that change will be shaped by Delta people. The new leaders and co-workers coming to Delta, or any company, do not own the culture nor do they have absolute control over what it will be. The culture of a company can certainly be guided by its leaders, but it is owned by its employees and customers. It is the responsibility of every Delta employee to keep the best parts of our culture and heritage and pass it along to the new members of the Delta family regardless of how they come to Delta.



But let’s be fair, the Delta culture is not for everyone. We have seen new leaders and co-workers come and go because they did not fit the model of what makes this company a great place to work. It is our duty to hold each other accountable for what Delta stands for. I’m sure there will be those coming to the new Delta that once they are here find this is not the culture for them.



I think our company founder Mr. Woolman in talking about change and the values of our culture as Delta grows summed it up best when he said, “Now, Delta is growing and growing fast. Yet we will never have any monopoly. We will always compete with planes of similar speed and comfort and identical fares. If we continue to grow it will be because we can expand without losing the “difference” that made Delta’s reputation…” Together with our new Northwest co-workers we will change the business for the better while preserving the best of the Delta.



Colleagues, for the past 79 years we have seen it is the people of Delta that make this a great company; no matter where you come from.



Regards,



Joe