Tom Peters' 8 Attributes of Business Success

"In Search of Excellence" was a huge hit for Peters. While some of the lessons (and some of the companies profiled) have altered over time, the key 8 attributes of success demand study. For Peters these were (are?)

1. Bias towards action
2. Simple structure and lean staffing
3. Continued contact with customers
4. Improved productivity via your people
5. Operational autonomy to stimulate entrepreneurship
6. Put emphasis on one key value
7. Stick to what you know best
8. "Loose-tight" controls

If you translate these attributes into questions for yourself you get:

1. What is the time-lag between finding an issue and taking a decision - and how long between decision and action being taken?
2. Do you have the right structure with the fewest staff to create the most effective set up?
3. How regular is your contact with your customers - does that contact increase their satisfaction in dealing with you?
4. How well are your "personnel policies" managed toward employee satisfaction and productivity?
5. How well are you delegating responsibility and freedom to your staff?
6. What is your one guiding principle?
7. Are you "sticking-to-the-knitting" - what are you really good at?
8. Do you maintain tight control over the "housekeeping" whilst allowing creativity to flourish?

Significantly, none of the 8 attributes are financial - Peters poses 5 financial questions to discover how you are performing in this vital sphere:

1. Are you creating wealth?

2. How highly do investors rate your company?

3. How efficiently are you investing capital?

4. How well are you using shareholders money?

5. How effectively are you managing costs and revenues?

To return to the Definition Leadership Page

To return to the Winston Churchill Leadership Home Page

Nice apartment