goidel.net

Disclaimer: I have yet to read Jim Collins’ “Good To Great,” and so, forgive me if I offend anyone’s sensibilities. But, this morning I started writing a blog post (on another subject), and this thought came to mind, so I decided to write about it instead…

Many people have quoted Jim Collins’ “who before what” analogy about great companies and filling the bus with the right people:

You are a bus driver. The bus, your company, is at a standstill, and it’s your job to get it going. You have to decide where you’re going, how you’re going to get there, and who’s going with you.

Most people assume that great bus drivers (read: business leaders) immediately start the journey by announcing to the people on the bus where they’re going—by setting a new direction or by articulating a fresh corporate vision.

In fact, leaders of companies that go from good to great start not with “where” but with “who.” They start by getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.*

So, I ask the question: When you take a bus ride, aren’t you a passenger? Isn’t it your role to sit back and patiently wait until you get to your destination?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Dangerous Kitchen (my company) filled with passengers; I want a squadron of flying aces, each working in a coordinated effort to hit the right targets. (OK, I admit that’s a pretty smarmy analogy, but you get the idea.)

So, sorry Jim, I’m with you on the “right people” part. I can buy into the “people before destination” part (at least to some extent, though we can argue about that on another post). Ain’t takin’ the bus ride though.

No offense.

* From jimcollins.com — http://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/good-to-great.html