On my bookshelf | Good to Great, by Jim Collins

When working towards my AMA, someone (can’t remember who, but thank you if it was you) recommended I read the management book Good to Great, by Jim Collins. Being a bit suspicious of management-type books, I was reticent, but they persuaded me. 

Collins’ book was surprisingly accessible to read: it looked at why some American companies had grown massively compared to others that hadn’t. I remember two key messages from it that helped shape me as a leader. 

The first was to discover what makes you good –  and focus on it to become great. This struck me as right for museums – focus on your mission, whatever that is in your institution, and don’t get distracted by projects and actions that don’t actively contribute to it. 

Second, the best leader is not the “heroic leader” who comes in as a saviour, who knows what’s best, builds a culture around them and their ideas and then, when they leave, the whole place collapses because their brilliance is not there (we have all met leaders like this who subscribe to the “my way or the highway” work culture). The best leaders are those who build brilliant teams, create an atmosphere of collaboration and connection, foster talent and then nurture it. 

I always saw myself in my head as the brilliant, wise, hero leader, but this book helped me further on my journey to try to be a legacy leader, the one who helps others to do their best work, together.