Moving Your Organization from Good to Great

In a Nutshell
Using the ideas put forth by best selling author Jim Collin’s in his book Good to Great, Bristlecone Learning accelerates change and improves performance in teams and individuals through a dynamic seminar-style format. After conducting a culture and business audit of the client’s target audience and business process, we design a seminar that connects the concepts of the book with the relevant applications of the business. Each “Going from Good to Great” design is customized to focus on what’s working and what could be improved in the client’s specific business.

Target Audience
Good to Great is perfect for teams, groups, departments and companies who are working to improve in spite of already being highly successful. Used in conjunction with strategic change initiatives, Good to Great can also be used as a catalyst to spark culture change in organizations. Going from Good to Great is not for every client, but it is a great way to accelerate change and improve performance for companies who are “good” and ready to explore greatness.

Duration
One to three days

Preliminaries
An assessment of the client requesting service is conducted for every client to insure the service fits the need. The depth of the assessment parallels the scope of the work.

Going from Good to Great is conducted in a seminar style format and it can vary in length from one to three days. A venue conducive to learning without the distractions of work is critical to the success of the Seminar.

Details
The seminar and retreat style format of each “Going from Good to Great” session creates a novel environment for personal and professional growth. Regardless of the specific content, each session is anchored to some universally applicable methods.

The Concepts of “Good to Great”
As Jim Collins says, "Good" is the enemy of great. Striving for “Great” involves risk but offers growth. Settling for “Good” provides security but creates complacency. When is it right to chose one over the other? How do you go after “great” in your life and work?

First “Who” First “Who” is a dynamic way to understand and improve as a leader, coach and manager. The temptation of many managers is to opt for termination or dismissal of employees versus managing to their strengths and configuring jobs in which people can win in. Managers need to determine the motivation, capability and confidence of their teams. Jim Collins uses the seats on a bus as a metaphor for building the right team. How do you know if you have the right people in the right seats on the bus? How do you know if someone is simply in the wrong seat (skills and position mismatch) or if they are just on the wrong bus?

Confront the Facts
What type of culture exists in your organization and what type of culture do you desire? If you are building the culture you want, how do you sustain it? If you want a different or improved culture, what specifically do you want and what are you willing to risk to create it? Are you ready to try and achieve greatness?

The Hedgehog Concept
According to Collins, Hedgehogs know what is important and maintain singular focus on it. They have distilled what is important into the following categories:
1. What can they be the best in the world at?
2. What drives your economic engine?
3. What are you deeply passionate about?

Technology Accelerators
Determine if technology can accelerate any of what’s important (see “Hedgehog Concept) or if it simply is a necessary ingredient in your business’ mix.

Build Momentum/Get the Flywheel Spinning
What are the initiatives and strategies that need to gain traction and become self-sustaining within your organization? Management can’t drive everything; hat needs to be driven by everyone and how do you create that momentum?

The Formula

• Take motivated, capable people interested in leading and participating in continuous, dramatic organizational and personal improvement
• Add the objectives and current business conditions of your organization
• Blend with concepts and language that provoke reflection, meaningful discussion and innovative thinking, “Good to Great”
• Mix with methods, exercises and practice sessions that engage the spirit and foster learning
• Simmer thoroughly for 1.5 to 3 days
• Create the catalyst to elevate your business to the next level

For more information on “Going from Good to Great,” contact: info@bristleconelearning.com