How was the book?

”This is the only book you have to read about leadership” was the recommendation to me. Sounds like a great challenge. Of course I took the challenge.

Will the “Winning” be a classic or not? When I started to read the book I was thinking that this book smells like a classic. Book is built clearly from the top management agenda. It creates ideas how you might be winning. What you need in order to win. And how to act if you want to win.

First, Jack Welch is very clear on definitions such as mission, values, leadership etc. And he is also clear on defining what’s the scope of top management, how to run business, what do to with people.

Second, the book is filled with has rule of thumb:

·      Three steps how to develop your strategy, five slides and big a-ha.

·      Five steps of crisis management.

·      Nine rules for a leader what he should do.

·      Three common mistakes with (internal) start-ups.

·      The acid test for assessing people about integrity, intelligence and maturity.

·      4E (and 1-P) where you should be looking energy, energize, edge and execution. Then you might find passion.

·      ”Winning” has a great deal of resembles with David Ogilvy’s thinking about that ”the good ones know more.”

Third, Jack Welch is very fond with candor, people and change. He truly enjoys the concept of candor and the behavior that it sparks. Welch is open and very sincere about people. The 20-70-10 rule where people are divided into top 20 percent, middle 70 percent and bottom 10 percent. Top 20 is showered with gold. Middle 70 is kept motivated. And underperformers are helped to find better opportunities from outside. Everybody’s position is based on merits and performance. The top20 cannot be filled with buddies and head nodders.

Change should a relatively orderly process, but “you have to be changing all the time if you want to stay in the game, let alone win”. 

What are the key learnings of the book? 

Leadership

–       Is about people doing business with other people. Don’t get technical.

–       Leaders use candor and talk about winning.

–       “Internal communications can be your worst enemy. In case you fail in it.”

Strategy and budgeting

–       Find your big a-ha, communicate and execute

–       No big think. Make sure it is somewhat concrete

–       It means making clear-cut choices about how to compete. Way forward?

–       “You pick up a general direction and implement like hell.”

Build capital

–       This can be your understanding how things work, with whom and with certain pace.

–       Spare ”capital of others” i.e. your boss, collaques etc.

Get luck

–       How to get promoted? First you need some luck.

–       A chance plays a part in promotions.

How should we change according to the book?

Bring change, people and candor to the agenda. Topics that we all should use more and more.

What should I personally do? 

Use the five strategy slides and develop a big a-ha.

Summary

Well, was this a classic? It might be. Winning is easy to read and remember. Even inspiring. There is no threshold in Welch’s key messages. He has great insights on how run a global giant and he also recognizes that people are people.

The book in six words – Becoming a leader starts with your luck!