Good is the enemy of Great

“Good is the enemy of great ….the vast majority of companies remain just that – good, but not great”.  That’s the view of one of the best writers on leadership and creating excellence, Jim Collins. Substitute, in place of “companies”, schools, colleges, councils, hospitals, charities or any other form of organisation and the words are still true.

Is there anything wrong with being good? No, if it’s a step on the path to greatness.  But as a destination in itself then it isn’t aspirational enough. That may sound harsh but what does nearly every school and/or teacher want for their students?  To be the best they can be. Not good, but to achieve the greatness that resides inside.

Great is about challenging, striving, and being inspired and motivated. It isn’t about being the best in the world, but being the best that’s possible in their circumstances.  And not using circumstances as an excuse for not reaching further.  It’s about never being satisfied, and looking for new ways of achieving things. It’s about learning,  taking what’s learned  and applying it to your situation so you can become better, become the best you can be. If it’s right for your students, surely it’s right for your staff and school?

And becoming great doesn’t mean that everything has to happen at once. Perhaps overall greatness is like eating an elephant. Take a bite at a time and you’ll get there. Is 2012 the time to start eating the elephant?  In CPD, in communications, in drama, in sport, in numeracy, in reading, in whatever?  Can you turn your back on the opportunity to be great, even in just one extra aspect of your school ?

Anne Evans is Chief Executive of HTI, one of the country’s key providers of leadership development. She sees HTI as “developing great leaders because great leaders develop great teachers.  And great teachers make the difference to young people’s start in life”.  Greatness in one area leads to greatness elsewhere. It can be contagious.

This year try looking at what’s good about you. And make it great.

 

Posted on: 6th January 2012 in

We're all the media now

“Institutions that once had to go through media to deliver information are now themselves
media”. So said Andrew Nachison a business writer and futurist.

What so every organisation is now a newspaper or TV station? Yes and no.

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