Good 2 Great - The Review...
Ok, so I finally finished the book "Good to Great" and now I have to write a 500 word (roughly) review type thing of what I've learned.Once again, you can click the extended link at the bottom of this post to read the proper assignment, but if you can't be bothered, here's a really brief overview...
To create a thriving business, you need to check yourself out, making sure that you're taking responsibility for the ups and downs of the company, you need to make sure that you have the right people on-board that will be motivated and fully committed to the overall vision. You then need to be realistic about where the company already is and what it will take to move forward. Once you've done that, you need to consider what it is that you're passionate about, what you can be best in the world at doing, and what one thing is gonna create the best results, and every decision from that point on needs to be checked against those 3 points, and scrapped if they don't fit. And remember, it's the accumulation of small steps that brings a company to its breakthrough potential.
And that's it. Simple huh?
Right, onto the next book....
The Review...
When I first started reading Good to Great I was really interested to see how a secular book on leading a company would be relevant to a charity sector organisation, and I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised.
Many of the concepts covered in this book are directly transferable to a Christian ministry role. The idea of getting the right people on board before even considering the way forward for the organisation is one that I have seen work (or not work when this didn't happen) in so many settings yet never stopped to think through what made the difference.
I think that was the case with much of the book's content. Extremely simple concepts that have been thought and worked through and experienced in the real world.
As I've been reading this book I've naturally started to think more strategically about the work that I do at NSYFC, and how that fits with the basic principles of the organisation. It's exciting to realise that I'm working for a level 5 leader and I really believe that it's a direct result of this style of leadership that NSYFC has radically transformed the way things get done over the last 18 months.
I guess the biggest thing for me, has been the idea of having the guts to not just take on board anything just because it seems like a good idea or great fundraiser, but to focus all attention on the basic concepts of what makes an organisation thrive. This has also applies quite heavily in family decision making.
The other tough issue I've had to deal with as a result of reading this book is the question of "What could I/NSYFC be the best in the world at?". It's such a big question, and I know that I haven't come up with a firm grasp of the answer just yet, but apparently that's a good thing as it's all part of a much bigger process.
Anyway, in conclusion, I am so pleased that I chose to read this book. It really has helped me to clear up some of my thinking on what it takes to be a great leader. And I'm sure that the next book I read will completely contradict everything that I've read so far, but as I've discovered (the hard way usually), there is no "one right way" of doing anything that involves people.
I would highly recommend that anyone in a position of leadership read this book. It's really made a huge impact on the way I think about leadership.
Any comments welcome as always.
And that's my first set of assignments finished... woohoo!!
When I first started reading Good to Great I was really interested to see how a secular book on leading a company would be relevant to a charity sector organisation, and I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised.
Many of the concepts covered in this book are directly transferable to a Christian ministry role. The idea of getting the right people on board before even considering the way forward for the organisation is one that I have seen work (or not work when this didn't happen) in so many settings yet never stopped to think through what made the difference.
I think that was the case with much of the book's content. Extremely simple concepts that have been thought and worked through and experienced in the real world.
As I've been reading this book I've naturally started to think more strategically about the work that I do at NSYFC, and how that fits with the basic principles of the organisation. It's exciting to realise that I'm working for a level 5 leader and I really believe that it's a direct result of this style of leadership that NSYFC has radically transformed the way things get done over the last 18 months.
I guess the biggest thing for me, has been the idea of having the guts to not just take on board anything just because it seems like a good idea or great fundraiser, but to focus all attention on the basic concepts of what makes an organisation thrive. This has also applies quite heavily in family decision making.
The other tough issue I've had to deal with as a result of reading this book is the question of "What could I/NSYFC be the best in the world at?". It's such a big question, and I know that I haven't come up with a firm grasp of the answer just yet, but apparently that's a good thing as it's all part of a much bigger process.
Anyway, in conclusion, I am so pleased that I chose to read this book. It really has helped me to clear up some of my thinking on what it takes to be a great leader. And I'm sure that the next book I read will completely contradict everything that I've read so far, but as I've discovered (the hard way usually), there is no "one right way" of doing anything that involves people.
I would highly recommend that anyone in a position of leadership read this book. It's really made a huge impact on the way I think about leadership.
Any comments welcome as always.
And that's my first set of assignments finished... woohoo!!
1 Comments
Leave a comment
Stats Counter
Powered by Visitor Stats
Good stuff Jon, glad this has been inspirational. As someone who is yet to read the book, a line or two about what makes a Level 5 leader would have been helpful, along with the particular reasons that approach has been so releasing for you.
Blessings and catch up at Staff Conference
Phil