In Search of Excellence

I recently finished reading a book called “In Search of Excellence, Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies” by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr.  The book was insightful and provided some very valid points that I believe if practiced, can help each one of us find excellence not only in business but in life.  Below are a few of my favorite points from the book. 

#1  Winners

The book emphasized how excellent companies motivate their teams and that is through allowing them and helping them to feel like winners.  Unfortunately, in business and in life we tend to focus on the negative and where we fall short rather than all of the good that is being accomplished.  Great companies develop systems that allow the majority of their people to win!  In fact, the book states that excellent companies “actively seek out and pursue endless excuses to give out rewards.”   In life, I feel we’d do ourselves a big favor by actively seeing the good and finding ways to celebrate our successes despite our failures.  I know that what we focus on we become.  So, if we change our perspectives and see the good, we will believe in ourselves and believe in others which will help each of us to act like winners.  According to the authors and their research, such is the philosophy of excellent companies. 

#2  Purpose

The authors point out that man is constantly searching for purpose in life and that great companies provide purpose for their teams.  This purpose is clear and easy to understand by all who work within the organization from the CEO to the last staff member.  One example from the book is a janitor who was mopping the floors diligently at NASA.  He was approached and asked by a visitor why he was working so hard and his response was in essence because he was helping to put a man on the moon.  I love this!  This man had purpose!!  Purpose provides clarity, focus, and motivation to do our best.  As in great companies, successful people live with purpose.  They know what they want, why they want it, and then they strive to get there.  As people, we are willing to sacrifice a great deal when there truly is a cause we understand and believe in.  Thus as with excellent companies, excellent people live with purpose. 

#3  Loose-Tight

According to the authors, great companies have a loose-tight philosophy meaning they are strict or “tight” on a few things only then they allow nearly total autonomy (loose) outside of these few things.  This reminds me of an interview I heard about on the radio with Pete Carroll the current Seattle Seahawks coach who seems to espouse this same philosophy.  For the most part, the Seahawks have very few rules but exceptionally high standards.  Each player is allowed to do basically whatever they want as long as they meet those standards and this philosophy has seemed to pay off for the Seahawks.  I believe as leaders in our homes, families, places of work, or really in any aspect of our lives if we can develop the same type of mentality or philosophy, we will find greater success.  We need to be strong and unbending on a few basic principles or values but outside of those we should be willing to allow others or ourselves freedom to act.  Living this philosophy endears trust and a belief and respect in others which in turn creates great environments and cultures. 

I strongly believe that these are three principles that can have a big positive impact in our lives.  As we strive to see winners, live with purpose, and develop a loose-tight philosophy, I have no doubt we will see greater outcomes in our lives.  

To see how I rated this book, click here.