Transformation

Most of us are familiar with Jim Collin’s book Good To Great. I am re-reading the book after having read it a few years back. What strikes me about the book is that it is during times like we are experiencing right now that the great companies stand out. And it can be a time of transformation of good organizations to become great organizations.

The focus on and belief in success permeates great organizations. Getting from a good company to a great company is not an event, it is an ongoing journey. As Mr. Collins says so well in his book, “Good is the enemy of great”.

I am fortunate to be working with the leadership team of a good company that is beginning its conscious journey towards great. It is an exciting time and a scary time. Moving out of a comfort zone is perhaps one of the hardest things for a person or organization to do. This company is taking steps to “peal the onion” and take a critical look at itself. And also is trying to determine what their “hedgehog” is or should be. If you don’t know the hedgehog concept, I encourage you to read “Good To Great”.

One of the challenges is making sure the right people are on the right bus at the right time. If the right team is in place and in the right roles, they will determine the direction the organization needs to drive towards.

Talent management is certainly a critical aspect of any organization, but I might suggest that it is equally important to have a good unbiased view of the weaknesses of an organization. There are several ways to accomplish this, but one of the best is to map the flow or process of the currently perceived core competencies. This creates a view that is neutral and allows all involved to look at the same thing from the same view point at the same time. This takes the opinion aspect out of the discussion and allows for open discussion and strategy.