Get better or Get Beaten: Book Review #2

I read a book ‘Get Better or Get Beaten; 31 Leadership Secrets from GE’s Jack Welch’. The book tells about how Jack Welch becomes a famous person and how he manages and leads General Electric. In my opinion, the author’s choice of the title of the book was very good. There is no doubt Jack Welch is well known person in the world. However, I wanted to know why and how he became so famous. The author, Robert Slater, analyzed very well what Jack Welch did for General Electric. He had more than 25 years of work experience with Time magazine, Newsweek and UPI. Also, he is one of the top business biographers. He writes a number of books about Jack Welch and General Electric. The author clearly states and put well thoughts on Jack Welch’s 31 leadership skills.
The main thesis of the book is Jack Welch’s leadership. Basically, contents state 31 leadership secrets. And the text is very detailed and well explained. The contents are based on the real facts. The most impressive leadership secrets are ‘Change, Before It’s Too Late’, ‘Act Like Small Company’, and ‘Listen To The People Who Actually Do The Work’. General Electric was already big and well known company in the U.S. before Jack Welch became a chief executive officer. Mostly people do not like changes when things are going well. However, a small change can develop the company much better. Moreover, small company can communicate better, move faster, and waste less. Jack Welch knew those things; therefore he down sized, delayed, and restructured the company. Furthermore, he knew that people who actually work are most important in the company. Therefore, he tried to listen carefully to employees.
In conclusion, Jack Welch leaded General Electric to one of most successful companies in America. Moreover, he is the best CEO in 20 century. After I read the book, I learned that one of good leadership skills are to downsize. However, this does not always apply to every company. Good leader is not always apprised by how much profit he makes. What I think leader is that should make everyone (include employee, shareholder, and customer) happy. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who do not know what downsizing the company means. This is one of the leadership skills that should know how and when to use. This is a good skill when some CEO uses at opportune moment. Otherwise, it could affect bad influences to company.


Ted (Kwanhee) Lee, BECA 428