Let Others Decide: How DHL’s COO Shares Authority

Guest: Mike McLellan, COO, DHL Supply Chain North America

 

You hired capable leaders. Can they make a decision you wouldn’t have made…and still count on your support?

Mike McLellan, Chief Operating Officer of DHL Supply Chain North America, admits he likes control. But when a vice president proposed a reorganization different from his own vision, he recognized that his plan wasn’t better, dhl.comand told her to execute hers.

In this conversation with Maureen Metcalf, Mike explains how distributed decision authority helps DHL navigate uncertainty and growth across more than 700 U.S. sites. He shares how experienced leaders combine trust with operational visibility, recognize the limits of their own expertise, and protect culture when rapid growth puts pressure on hiring and promotions.

You’ll also hear how DHL evaluates automation before scaling it, why impressive technology isn’t always useful technology, and why respect for frontline employees remains fundamental to execution.

For executives balancing accountability with the need to let others lead, this episode offers a practical look at staying informed, knowing when to intervene, and giving your team room to deliver.

You can binge on all of Mike’s episodes:

• From Tariffs to Tempests: Strengthening Your Supply Chain
• Disruption No More: Future-Proofing Your Business

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.

RESOURCES:  

Learn more about DHL on their website: https://www.dhl.com/. You can also contact Mike directly on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mclellan-81227a3/.

 

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 

 

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.

 

Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 

 

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko

Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan

Booking Producer: Jenna Reik (Jreik@innovativeleadership.com)

Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.

 

CONNECT WITH US: 

YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 

Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 

 

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About Our Guest:  

Mike McLellan is Chief Operating Officer of DHL Supply Chain North America, where he leads operational excellence across the region, supporting both established operations and new business. He serves on the division’s North America Board and Global Operations Board.

 

Mike brings extensive operational experience in big-box retail and e-commerce. Since joining DHL in 2015, he has helped expand key operations and strengthen collaboration across business functions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville.