Success, Kanter argues, hinges on the fundamental principle of "confidence," which distinguishes consistent winners from those who repeatedly stumble. This confidence is not inherent but cultivated through specific practices that enable individuals and organizations to maintain winning streaks or recover from losing ones. Kanter investigates this principle across diverse arenas, including corporations, governments, relationships, sports teams, education, health care, and politics, examining why talent alone does not guarantee success.
Kanter presents a prescriptive program for leadership, drawing on investigations of entities like Continental Airlines, Verizon, the New England Patriots, and the Philadelphia Eagles. The book offers practical ideas for fostering and sustaining success, explaining how organizations can move from having talent to becoming true winners by managing their confidence. Readers learn about the factors that can make or break success, offering insights into the mechanics of winning and losing streaks.
Key concepts
- Confidence — The fundamental principle that differentiates consistent winners from those who repeatedly stumble.
- Winning streak — A period of sustained success that organizations or individuals can actively maintain.
- Downward spiral — A phase of repeated failure that organizations or individuals can learn to reverse.
- Prescriptive program for maintaining a winning streak — A practical set of strategies for continued success.
- Turning around a downward spiral — A structured approach for recovering from periods of failure.