06/26/2026
Last week, DNOW’s RAD (Retain, Attract, Develop) program kicked off our “Leading Together” leadership series. We were honored to have Jack McCarthy, our Senior Vice President of U.S. Sales & Operations, speak about what defines true and strong leadership. Jack gave us some insightful takeaways, including:
✅ LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND COMPLETE TASKS ON TIME
Jack emphasized leading by example by showing up with discipline and doing the work alongside the team, not just directing it. He reinforced this with a focus on completing tasks on time, noting that reliability and proactive communication about deadlines are critical to building trust.
✅ MANAGE UP THROUGH COMMUNICATION
He stressed that strong performers actively manage up by consistently communicating what they are working on and keeping leadership informed. This connects directly to communication, ensuring alignment and visibility across all levels of the organization.
✅ USE DELEGATION TO BUILD STRONGER TEAMS
Jack highlighted that effective leaders must embrace delegation rather than trying to do everything themselves. Developing others through delegation is essential for scaling leadership and building long-term team capability.
✅ PRACTICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OWNERSHIP WITH PROCESS DISCIPLINE
He framed leadership around accountability and ownership, encouraging leaders to take responsibility for outcomes and coach improvement instead of assigning blame. This is reinforced by process discipline, emphasizing that following established processes consistently leads to stronger, more reliable results.
✅ BE PROACTIVE AND FOLLOW UP CONSISTENTLY
Jack underscored the importance of being proactive by stepping in early and not waiting for direction, especially during periods of change. He pairs this with follow-up, showing that continuing to check in and push for resolution is what ultimately drives outcomes.
✅ READ, MAINTAIN A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE, AND LEAD WITH EMPATHY
He encouraged leaders to read and continuously learn from real-world examples to sharpen their perspective and decision-making. Combined with a positive mental attitude and empathy, he highlighted the importance of mindset (staying constructive and understanding others) to lead effectively.
👏 A huge THANK YOU to Jack for his invaluable insights and honesty - helping the entire DNOW team lead stronger and achieve even greater heights!
👏 And we also want to thank DNOW’s RAD team for hosting this event. RAD provides a dedicated avenue to exercise professional growth, gain perspective, dig deeper into the foundations of our company, and promote inclusive thought. Because we believe an investment in our team is an investment in our current and future success!
