Reading ’’Winning’’ is like hearing about winning from the horse’s mouth itself. For the author happens to be the great Jack Welch – with his career span of 40 years with GE has become synonymous with a winner. First of all let me put forth the most important feature of this book – simple language. This feature enables the book to be read by a wide range of people; not just restricted to managers/leaders/CEOs. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if I say that the book can be understood by even a school kid. But the simple language does not stop the author from bringing forth terrific ideas of winning in the corporate world.
The book has many interesting managerial concepts. Here I should say ‘managerial’ need not be restricted to corporate management alone. The fundamentals like how to go about executing a Strategy, Leadership and Candor can be applied anywhere. In fact, the whole book can be seen from different perspectives and surprisingly, it seems to fit anywhere the observer tries to apply the concepts.
The book by itself practices what it preaches. The qualities of candor and openness run throughout the book. There is no sugarcoating when it comes to controversial topics like Differentiation (which includes products and more importantly people). And when it comes to accepting mistakes and moving along, the author hides nothing from the reader. The candor is also glaring when Welch talks about the work-life balance. This section seems to overthrow the long-held concepts of personal-professional balance.
Welch starts off with mission and values which are the basic motivators of moving ahead (again not for a company alone). The section on leadership skills expounds the qualities of a leader, is very descriptive and perspicuous. One thing I learnt from the book is that there are two important qualities to succeed – one is having a positive energy and other is having a can-do attitude. These two qualities are stressed throughout the book as the basics of building a successful career.
Towards the end, the author concludes the book by answering some questions thrown to him at various conventions which range from golf to the Chinese growth. When one finishes the book, the experience is slightly different from other books. It’s like the end of conversation with a great person over a cup of coffee. And of course, you return highly stimulated and enlightened.