GOOD TO GREAT

Many people wonder how good companies become great. The author Jim Collins did an excellent job gathering real life business samples and data points from all different kinds companies. The point was to draw correlations between the good companies and the great companies. We also learned why some companies are never able to make that jump from good to great.

The first main point of the book concentrated on the possession of a level 5 leader. What is a level 5 leader? This is a manager or leader who intrinsically has the best interest of his employees in mind. It’s someone who puts the company ahead of his/her own personal accomplishments. Someone who is more concentrated on the overall vision, rather than short-term successes. This person is an expert at matching individuals strengths to job responsibilities within the company. An analogy they used often was this: “You need to get the right people on the bus. Once you have all the right people on the bus, you can take the bus anywhere.” This analogy really resonated with me because so many times companies hire because there is a demand for a position and rather than wait for the right person for the position they settle.

The second point talked about momentum. Changing small things within your organization to help create internal momentum. When your employees feel this momentum, and it is contagious, they become self-motivating. In many cases you can pin point where the Level 5 leaders had created that long lasting momentum.
In conclusion, this book really opened my eyes to the subtleties that catapult companies from good to great. It also made me think about looking for these qualities when choosing my profession. I hope I find a level 5 leader within a great company.