In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins undertakes to explain his theory of why some companies make the leap from being just good into their industries to great. He details how he and his team carried out their study and ultimately singled out eleven companies that transitioned way beyond the rest. According to him, the transition from good to great is a process of slow and steady build up, which is followed by a breakthrough into the great. Although Collins focuses on the factors affecting companies, the majority of the concepts he brings up can be applied to an individual as well, in some form or another. He starts out discussing what his team calls “Level 5 Leadership”. This is essentially the leadership style practiced by the CEOs of …show more content…
On the part of the management, it was the process of making a series of good decisions, while keeping the harsh reality in sight. They strived to create an atmosphere where honesty was valued and honored, and where people would ask questions instead of simply dispensing answers to ensure the work being done was within the framework of practicality. Also, Collins discusses what he calls the “Hedgehog Concept”. This essentially entails having one thing that you can focus on, rather than trying to do it all. Overall, it results in better performance of the company as a whole due to the resultant ability of the organization to create a niche for itself in that particular sphere. The concept is applied by discovering one thing that fits in all three overlapping circles: what you are passionate about, what you can make money at, and what you can be the best at. With this focus in mind, an organization can leap forward in its respective …show more content…
It wasn’t the spark that started the fire, although it later did help to accelerate its growth. The real reason for the achievements of these organizations was the fact that their operations were carried out in a manner that led to the slow and steady achievement of their goals. This “Flywheel” built up momentum, and enabled these companies to continue to be successful even after their leadership changed hands. While Collins is very focused on the eleven companies identified in his team’s study, his principles are very applicable in other contexts as well. As an individual, I feel that I could apply many of these to my own life and goals. At the University of Cincinnati, I’ve joined various leadership programs including the First Year Leadership Program and Emerging Ethnic Leaders and been selected to be a part of the executive boards of other clubs as well. However, after reading about Collins’ insights, I feel I should hone my skills and views to match the ideal candidate to lead such an