Seven characteristics of companies that went “from good to great”:

1.  Level 5 Leadership: Leaders who are humble, but driven to do what’s best for the company.

2.  First Who, Then What: Get the right people on the bus, then figure out where to go. Finding the right people and trying them out in different positions.

3.  Confront the Brutal Facts: The Stockdale paradox -Confront the brutal truth of the situation, yet at the same time, never give up hope.

4.  Hedgehog Concept: Three overlapping circles: What lights your fire (“passion”)? What could you be best in the world at (“best at”) What makes you money (“driving resource”)?

5.  Culture of Discipline: Rinsing the cottage cheese.

6.  Technology Accelerators: Using technology to accelerate growth, within the three circles of the hedgehog concept.

7.  The Flywheel: The additive effect of many small initiatives; they act on each other like compound interest.

Copyright and Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_to_Great