Rating: 
Summary: Good to Great is required reading for school administrators
Review: Good to Great should be required reading for school administrators. There are some striking concepts that make sense for school leaders. First, it's not that Level 5 Leaders aren't ambitious or have self-interest, it's just that their primary ambition is for the success of the institution. Humility and will (an unwavering resolve) are essential for Level 5 leadership. One of the analogies of a Level 5 leader is "plow horse rather than show horse." Great leaders tend to come up from within the company, rather than a celebrity outsider. I found it interesting that Level 5 leaders tend to attribute their success to luck, not greatness within themselves. This seems to contradict earlier thought wherein women were encouraged to stop attributing success to luck and to accept kudos for doing well. In the past, it was thought women limited their acknowledgement of success by attributing it to sources outside of themselves. Another concept in the book that I strongly agreed with was to lead with questions. This strongly concurs with what I believe about good leadership. Companies that tend to ask open-ended questions and search out the "what if's" would seem to be positioned to capture market changes more quickly than companies that stride ahead on one path without considering options. Cisco Systems seems to do this well and, as a result, didn't suffer in the same way as many of the other Silicon Valley companies. It seems to me that Warren Buffet exemplifies Level 5 leadership. He strikes me as a steady, methodical plow horse, rather than showy. Collins also addresses the importance of mentoring others to eventually replace the Level 5 leader. I wonder how easy or difficult it is for great leaders to mentor others? Many school leaders typify Level 5 leadership; however, some are still are on the journey to get there. I would encourage every school leader or emerging leader to add this book to their reading list this summer.
Rating: 
Summary: Great companies cultivate their employees
Review: This was a not great, but still good book about the factors that allow companies to get "over the hump" to become successful long-term. This differs from other books that crowd this over-overpacked genre because of it's focus on companies that, rather than going hog-wild about big-name execs and the latest and greatest computer gadgets, don't treat their employees like commodities ready for the outsourcing mill. Collins' book shows how successful companies focus on cultivating their people-- on picking the best ones, nurturing their drive to buy into the corporate mission, and building work relationships among each other that are strong enough to get thru the down times. This book is good if nothing else as an antidote to all the hoopla out there about how employees are dispensable and easily replaceable. It's this poor set of ideas that causes so many companies to look at employees like just some other number on the balance sheet and outsource jobs abroad in a way that the employee relationships and teamwork aren't built up. These companies can have success for a while, but they tend to break down long term because they lack those basic relationships among it's core people, all the trust that's needed to bring the company thru those tough trials when they come.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok but not great
Review: It was an easy read, but you can only take little from this book. I know a lot of people put a lot of stock in this book and attempt to model organizations after this teaching, so I decided to read it. I was let down quite a bit. Most of the highlights were obvious(i.e. surround yourself with good people, grow a company slowly), and a lot of them I didn't agree with. I felt like most of the time they would have an idea and mold their research findings to support their preconceived notions. As I read the book I kept shaking my head and thinking that their findings could be the result of other factors that weren't touched on. This book was not worth the read. They obviousely had business ideas and principles, then set out to find research that would support it, and discard any that wouldn't support it.
Rating:
Summary: The best book about Organization Management
Review: I have read various books on management, but no book is like this one. This book uses 5 years worth of detailed research, principally using FACTS, to prove what works and what does not work in managing a company and taking it from a mediocre organization to a great corporation. The book splits up all the elements required to become a great that can be summarized in three segments - disciplined people, disciplined thought and disciplined action. All the lessons learned in this book can be applied to ALL aspects of life, not just business. After reading this book, you will also realize what it takes from having a good life to living a great one.
Rating:
Summary: Good to Great
Review: Mr. Collins and his research takes you into the building of a company and want it takes to make it a winner. Anyone can start a company, but will that company have what it takes to make it a winner in todays marketplace. It takes a team of players that have that will to win and put that extra thats needed to win. The right people in the right places in the company is what it takes according to Mr. Collins. A well run company runs because of the people that are at the helm and right down to the lowest level of employment. A company is a machine and each part of that machine must be running right to produce. Mr. Collins research and book shows how every person counts making the good company a great company. Larry Hobson- Author- "The Day Of The Rose"
Rating:
Summary: Unwavering resolve to do what must be done
Review: Unwavering resolve to do what must be done! Ah -- a characteristic of the Level 5 (Good to Great) leader, described in this well researched book that shows the reader what it takes to take a good company to greatness. Personal humility fortified with professional will gives Good to Great leaders the edge on their ego-driven counterparts. Collins makes many marvellous points, the first being that the RIGHT people are your most important asset. By rising above unrealistic optimism, confronting brutal facts and asking questions that lead to the greatest insights (optimal thinking), the leader moves his company to greatness. Good to Great leaders focus on the few things that have the greatest impact (optimal thinking). Collins won me when he said "One of the primary ways to de-motivate people is to ignore the brutal facts of reality." Good to Great leaders create a culture where the truth is heard, and where negative thinking is not degraded or scorned (optimal thinking). This book is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: Breath of Fresh Air
Review: This book is a must read for executives. It's a refreshing look at the road to success by taking the path of hard work, persistance and ethics. A must read for professionals everywhere. Debbie Farmer, author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: There are good leaders and then there are great leaders. Equally, There are good books on leadership, then there are great books. I also recommend the book, The Little Guide To Happiness, for inner success, which is equally important.
Rating:
Summary: Good to Great by Collins
Review: This book is perfect for companies seeking to improve their overall position in an industry or for individual entrepreneurs
seeking to carve a successful niche in the target market.
The authors have taken numerous surveys and shaped a success model based upon the top performers across many industries.
They've named Abbott, Circuit City, Fannie Mae, Gillete and Nucor as top performers. The success models have many things in common. For instance, the employees value follow-through and a disciplined approach. People usually decide to stay or leave
quickly. The leaders develop a vision and adhere to it feverishly
or enthusiastically. The managers are passionate about the product or vision, they are best at delivering the product or service and personal drive is high. Change is managed skillfully.
This book is very helpful because the authors put together a model based upon successful companies and congruent behaviors that lead to successful outcomes. In addition, the authors deal with the question as to why some corporate strategies do not work. For instance, money alone is not always a cure-all for transitioning a company into the top-performer category. Lastly, the authors explain why successful companies get into the top performer status.
The book is a solid value because the authors provide specific data to support the conclusions reached. This book is a solid value for the price paid. It is written well. Pie charts depict the various statistical data. The book is written for readers who can appreciate visual presentations of data. The data is important because it supports the conclusions reached for attaining successful corporate strategies on an ongoing basis.
Rating:
Summary: Great book on how to focus a Company or Team
Review: This is one of the best business books I've ever read. It shows very successful ways for a company (or team) to: a. Determine what it does best.
b. Shape that skill into a successful business model.
b. And then focus the organization's efforts behind that effort. This book demonstrates how this works well by giving examples of companies that have succeeded or failed in the past.
| 
