What Are You? A Hedgehog or a Fox?

In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins describes the hedgehog as a slow and dowdy creature that has been blessed with only one talent -- it curls into a ball of sharp spikes whenever it is attacked. 

But in spite of its limited talents, it never loses to the clever and agile fox.

Because it uses this special talent every single time it is attacked. 

Collins suggests that companies who make it from "good" to "great" have one thing in common:

They act like hedgehogs.

Collins says that great companies have a piercing insight - they have clearly identified what they can be the best-in-the-world at  -- and that helps them maintain their focus.

Consider again the fox and hedgehog.

Who is working most productively? 

The hedgehog that knows exactly what to do and does it perfectly every time? 

Or the fox who tries chasing...attacking first from one side, and then from another... laying in ambush for the hedgehog...or any other tactic he can envision? But who fails - time after time.

Who endures more stress - the fox or the hedgehog?  For the hedgehog, every battle is easy because the solution is always the same.

When companies understand their own strengths, then hire and train employees who will collaborate with them in reaching their goals, they are able to prosper with ease. 

Jim Collins asserts that greatness emerges from a balance between discipline and entrepreneurship. 

Discipline provides the commitment necessary to reach goals, while entrepreneurship infuses solutions with creativity and innovation. 

The result is a team of hedgehogs - they have the laser focus to do what they do best and the commitment to see it through.