The book focuses on how companies can become great organizations. The author, Jim Collins, notes that not many people manage to attain greatness because after achieving a comfortable life, they stop making more effort. As well, many companies don’t struggle for greatness after attaining the level of adequate functionality. Collins and his team researched for five decades assessing how a company can become great. In their research, they layout systematic phases that a company must follow to achieve greatness. The author outlines three components, namely Process, Phases, and Flywheel, which he notes that they play an integral role in achieving the greatness of a company.
The book describes leadership as something that eludes prominent personalities and charismatic individuals. According to Collins, people who have brought success to many companies are shy and always operate behind the scenes. Such people possess professional will and humility. Collins outlines five different levels of leadership. In this level of the hierarchy, Collins singles out level five kind of a leader as the one who can make a company great. The type of leaders who bring companies to greatness thinks about the organization’s success and not personal riches.
Achieving greatness requires a team. However, organizations need to choose the right team to attain success. A group of visionary people would lay out a strategy to elevate the company to higher levels of success. Employing intelligent people does not mean a company will achieve greatness. Collins recommends hiring visionary people. The critical aspects of a great company are “disciplined people, disciplined thoughts, and disciplined action.” Ultimately, visionary leaders need to be humble and modest.
