Book review 📚 Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track–And Keeping It There by Les McKeown

As a manager and leader, I found Les McKeown’s book “Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track–And Keeping It There” to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and grow their business.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of creating a culture of accountability within an organization. McKeown argues that accountability is essential for achieving success, both in terms of individual performance and overall organizational growth. He provides practical strategies for building a culture of accountability, such as setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and establishing consequences for non-performance. This may seem like “management-101” but where McKeown stresses accountability, and the implications of a lack thereof, is in the progression of the various lifecycles of a business. More on this below.

As mentioned above, another important theme of the book is the concept of “predictable success.” McKeown argues that all organizations go through a predictable lifecycle, and that understanding and managing this lifecycle is key to achieving long-term success. The book provides a clear roadmap for navigating the different stages of organizational growth, from the “early struggle” phase to the “predictable success” phase.

Throughout the book, McKeown uses a positive and engaging writing style, using real-world examples to illustrate his points which kept me engaged. He also provides a wealth of practical tips and strategies for improving leadership effectiveness, such as the importance of delegation, effective communication, and building strong teams.

As a manager myself, I found the book to be highly applicable to my own work. I was particularly struck by McKeown’s emphasis on the importance of creating a culture of accountability, and have already implemented some of his strategies in my own organization. I also appreciated his clear and actionable advice for navigating the different stages of organizational growth.

While I found “Predictable Success” to be a highly valuable resource, there were a few areas where I felt the book could have been stronger. For example, I would have liked to see more detailed case studies or examples of organizations that have successfully implemented McKeown’s strategies. This may just be a personal preference as I find case studies very helpful. Additionally, while the book does provide a clear roadmap for achieving “predictable success,” it could benefit from more specific guidance on how to apply these principles in different organizational contexts.

Overall, I would highly recommend “Predictable Success” to anyone looking to improve their management effectiveness and grow their organization. McKeown’s insights and strategies are highly practical and actionable, and his engaging writing style makes for an enjoyable and informative read.

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Here are ten reflection questions that you can use after reading to help to begin applying some of the key ideas.

1. How does my organization’s current culture align with the principles of accountability outlined in the book? What changes can I make to improve accountability?
2. What are the key stages of organizational growth, and which stage is my organization currently in? What steps can I take to move towards “predictable success”?
3. How does my leadership style impact my organization’s growth and success? What changes can I make to improve my effectiveness as a leader?
4. What are the key factors that contribute to team performance, and how can I build stronger teams within my organization?
5. How can I effectively delegate tasks and responsibilities to members of my team? What strategies can I use to ensure that delegated tasks are completed successfully?
6. How can I improve communication within my organization, both internally and externally? What barriers to communication currently exist, and how can I overcome them?
7. What are the potential consequences of failing to achieve “predictable success” within my organization? How can I mitigate these risks and ensure long-term sustainability?
8. What are the most important metrics for measuring organizational success, and how can I track these metrics effectively?
9. How can I identify and address organizational silos or other barriers to cross-functional collaboration? What strategies can I use to promote collaboration and alignment across departments?
10. What are the biggest challenges facing my organization in terms of growth and sustainability, and how can I address these challenges effectively?

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