In a notable session focused on building successful companies at this week’s CAA World Congress of Sports (Sports Business Journal) in Nashville, WWE President Nick Khan provided valuable insights into the philosophy of organizational culture that helps shape one of the most recognizable brands of entertainment.
Having contributed to the continued evolution of WWE, Khan highlighted three key principles that guided his approach to leadership and corporate culture (all quotes from this article via SJB):
“No. 1 is never hiring people who respond outside the office in our employment practices,” Khan said honestly during the session. “I’m not a fan. Please go back to people and send a message.
This seemingly small detail reveals Khan’s emphasis on responsiveness and availability in a fast-paced industry.
Perhaps more importantly, Khan emphasized the important importance of honest feedback within an organization, especially when executives climb the corporate ladder.
“When you have a vision of something and you are chasing it, if it doesn’t work, then you have to have people working with you and you who can communicate it,” explained Khan.
“Sometimes, as you grow in your organization and get to the top, there are a lot of people who say, ‘That’s great!’ ‘that’s great! ‘But if it’s not big, you need to make sure there are some key people who say, ‘I don’t think this is going well’. And at that moment you started pivoting from there. ”
This philosophy underscores Khan’s belief that it creates an environment where candid communication is prioritized over performance flattery. This is a challenge that many organizations face as leadership becomes more isolated.
How WWE approaches obstacles
Khan also addressed how WWE approaches failure, providing an exhilarating, practical perspective that acknowledged the inevitable nature of failure in any business venture.
“We fail every day, every day, and we fail throughout the day. Don’t get it wrong,” admitted Kahn. “The clock bumps into midnight and resets for reasons. No matter how good the day is, how bad the day is, it’s over. So, important employees wake up with a fresh look the next morning with a fresh start.”
This resilient mindset is likely to contribute to WWE’s ability to adapt and evolve in ever-changing entertainment situations, and can be learned from set-offs rather than defined organizations.
Khan’s perspective was shared with other industry leaders during the event. This highlighted the importance of surrounding yourself as an “energy giver” rather than a “energy giver” rather than a “energy giver” partner at Fenway Sports Group, which provided complementary insights into organizational culture.
As WWE continues to expand and integrate with the UFC globally under TKO Group Holdings, Khan’s cultural philosophy provides valuable lessons to executives across the sport and entertainment situation, aimed at building resilient, sincere, and future-looking organizations.
