Book: Winning

Author: Jack Welch

I got the reference of this book from my previous read "Nice girls don't get the corner office".  What impressed me to order this book immediately was the author's background. Mr. Jack Welch is a former CEO of the General Electric between 1991 and 2001, who joined the company back in 1960. In the wide spread and understandably dynamic corporate arena, getting to know about and from such an experienced professional, who has worked for a single organization for over forty years and is a CEO of that company on his retirement, is definitely not a daily routine even  for the greatest book-lover. Upon ordering the book online, got it in almost no time!

Out of all that he said in his book, the below are the few things (in my words) and my thought on those that I would like to share here. 

Choosing a mentor for yourself is important. Choose the one who grew up the ladder quickly if you are really interested in becoming another one to do so. I do agree that a mentor plays an important role in everything that we do, although at times we listen only to our inner-selves. Choosing the one who has already moved up the ladder as your mentor might or might not work for you, but choosing none does not work either. Obviously, that's the best guess, if only it turns out to be. 

Retaining talent is important but not at the cost of the team spirit and project. When you get a resignation on your table, you must be ready with a replacement by the same day evening. That's exactly what I used to think. No wonder if I have to say that I can't agree more. Organizations or projects should not be people dependent. They must be process dependent. Of course, people play the major role. But the only role of any manager is to keep things people independent. That's all he is paid for. Never let anyone think that they are bigger than the project that they work for. Find a replacement as soon as you can and hit back. After all, organization has to move on and it moves on too. History has many examples. 

Handling difficult bosses is not done just by you but by many people in all organizations. So remember to work it out smoothly. Never fight. It's known that no one can win a fight with his boss. If you think you have just won one, you may have to seriously recheck if it's at all fight or not. Handling people is an art to be practiced every day. Handling bosses is equally to be practiced. 

Prepare yourself or the bigger roles you need to play in future. Use free time to chalk it out what will you do if you be the one the next day. Wait for the opportunity, even if you need to stay back in the same organization for years and just continue your good work. This might not appear so interesting when you just read it. But if you have some years of experience in your kitty, and if you are the one who observes the organizational changes keenly, whatever is said by Mr. Welch might appear making some definite sense. People come and go; this is not just a life's philosophy, it's more than true in corporate world too. Opportunities always keep lingering around every corner that many people choose to move here and there. There you get the nut you deserve. Just wait and be as good of a worker as you have always been. Try and build some reputation as well along with the CV, things will work out for you.

Maintain your corporate networking. Do work it out all the time. It works back at certain crucial moments. The author gives an example for this, a real life use case of a woman. As many similar other books also do suggest and as my experience has also proven to me, I can quote maintaining network at work is one of the best things to do as part of one's regular work routine. You never know what comes from whom that can change the way your career is heading to. Do spend enough time on this. Have some friends, have them all across and remember to be one in return. It's not as difficult as it appears to be. You just need to be open knowing fully of the extent to which you must be open. That's all it is. 

So, that's all from my side about this book. I suggest this book to you all. Read it as earlier as possible in your career. You might just learn too many things! Practicing them is thereafter up to you of course. 

One last thing from the book, and in full confidence of the positive energy in me: