Many people tout the book ‘Good to Great’, by Jim Collins.
I am one of those people. My favourite parts are two of the analogies: The Hedgehog Concept and the Flywheel.
However, I have recently discovered few people in our geography know what a hedgehog is. So, for the last 10 years when I have said things like, “the Hedgehog Concept in Jim Collins’ classic ‘Good to Great’ really resonates with me” most people have not understood a word I was talking about.
…I am working on that.
A hedgehog is a little insect-eating creature that lives in Europe, Asia, and other places…but not North America. While they are not the same species, hedgehogs and porcupines both have pointed things sticking out of their bodies…to protect them from predators.
Enough about hedgehogs…
When I say things like “the Hedgehog Concept in Jim Collins’ classic ‘Good To Great’ really resonates with me” I have another problem. The other problem lies in the title of the book, i.e., the words ‘Good to Great’. For many people, business days are not full of passion in search of excellence. Business days are a struggle in search of simple solutions.
Maybe the following category descriptions will explain what we are seeing at SouthWestern Ontario businesses:
Great
Good
OK
Struggling
Dire Straits
We could create detailed descriptions, backed by many years of research, to define these categories…as Jim Collins did for ‘Good’ and ‘Great’. But, that’s not necessary. Most business leaders know where their businesses sit.
And, of more importance, they know if they are prepared to make the changes necessary to move their business up the list.
Jim Collins discussed and answered the question “Why be Great?” near the end of his book.
What about the question “Why be better?”
Some would answer like George Bernard Shaw:
“Why Not?”
Some would answer from a different philosophical direction:
“Because you can.”
What’s your answer?
Why would you want your business to be better?
and
Are you willing to lead the changes, making personal changes, to make your business better?