“Good is the enemy of great.” It’s the opening line in Jim Collins’ masterpiece that I think about all the time.
One of the more serious challenges that leaders face is creating a sense of urgency and receptivity to change when things are “ok.” No one likes to disrupt their comfort level when there isn’t a crisis or perceived problem. It’s much easier to allow things to continue as they are. On the other hand, if leaders induce too much pain into the system, people will become disgruntled and shut down.
Your job as a leader is to determine that sweet spot where you can make people feel the case for change without pushing too far. This may involve painting a clear vision of what “great” looks like or it may require inducing a bit of discomfort to highlight the downside of what is perceived as “good.”
But without some intentional intervention, it’s all but certain that you will just stay the course.
Quote from Good to Great by Jim Collins, 2002.
