“Attitude Booster for working professionals”
Genre: Business & Management
Our Say – Must go on book-shelf - 4/5
Language used – Simple yet strong & convincing
Practicality in business world – Extremely applicable & helpful
Review:
Collins scores big time with this one.
First things first, commendable and convincing effort in the research put behind writing the book. Collins, along with his team conducted a research on some companies over a period of five years, studied their journey or leap as he calls it from being a mediocre good to being tremendously great.
As he puts it – Good is the enemy of GREAT.
In this read, he very smoothly communicates the various trends that are essentially noted in the “good to great” companies – the observations which now serve as directional guidelines for companies looking to make the leap successfully.
He throws light on the various factors responsible for giving an impetus to the leap and very intelligently explains both its importance and its functioning.
In addition to that, he clears existing myths concerning “revolutionary changes” that give an organization its clichéd “breakthrough”.
All in all, the book is extremely well written with no-frills and a powerful language usage.
It’s sure to leave an impression on the reader and, if put into practice, certainly the organization too.
Author’s say:
“I’m also convinced that the good-to-great findings apply broadly—not just to CEOs but also to you and me in whatever work we’re engaged in, including the work of our own lives. For many people, the first question that occurs is, “But how do I persuade my CEO to get it?” My answer: Don't worry about that. Focus instead on results—on subverting mediocrity by creating a Flywheel Effect within your own span of responsibility.
So long as we can choose the people we want to put on our own minibus, each of us can create a pocket of greatness. Each of us can take our own area of work and influence and can concentrate on moving it from good to great. It doesn’t really matter whether all the CEOs get it. It only matters that you and I do. Now, it’s time to get to work."
The book is certainly good reading and has good insights. The issue is many of the companies referred to in the book have gone past their good days, leave alone great. There seems to be no permanent recipe for staying great forever. Like in the case of empires or nations or for that matter living beings all companies appear to pass through their course of birth,growth,stagnation and death. I suppose each age requires specific skills and strengths and those companies which happen to have or acquire these skills win. However when the times change and so the requirements the very same strengths become their weakness.
ReplyDeleteI would rate this book as one of the best books on business ever written. By giving out examples of how the big companies have made it big, Jim Collins gives a great learning for all corporate honchos out there.
ReplyDeleteBut somewhere, still I await an Indian author writing something like this which is much more relevant in the Indian context.
Thanks