Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
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WINNING
By Jack Welch with Suzy Welch
When the man considered by many to be the greatest manager of the last century writes a book about how he did it, I figured I ought to give it a read. And boy – was this worth my time. I think the last book I gained this much business knowledge from was probably Good to Great.
I enjoyed the former head of GE’s discussion of the culture that needs to exist in order for a company to win. One of the things he focuses on is candor. Welch writes, “Everyone agrees that candor is against human nature. So is waking up at five in the morning for the 6:10 train every day.” Welch argues that candor cuts back on clutter and can help a company cut through bureaucracy and other messes that bog us down.
Welch talks about the importance of having “every brain in the game,” how to spot winners when you’re hiring, how to fire and who to fire, even how to budget. Actually Welch doesn’t like the word budget and all the covering your butt it implies. He argues for an entirely new system that he says makes winning so much easier.
This is a must read for managers, and really interesting for everyone else too. There are several chapters that apply to everyone, including one on how to handle a tough boss, hot to get a promotion, and how to find the right job. I give a big thumbs up for the business bestseller Winning by Jack Welch with his wife, Suzy Welch. On the Book Beat for KSL Newsradio, I’m Amanda Dickson.
