In Search of Excellence: Reader Reviews & Ratings

In Search of Excellence
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In Search of Excellence

Thomas J. Peters;Robert H. Waterman Jr.

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31 total
Casey

This book completely changed how I view management by proving that soft factors like trust and shared values drive real success far better than rigid data models or complex org charts ever could for any organization.

Deirdre

This book made me realize that chasing numbers is a trap, and focusing on people is the real key to success.

Amanda23

Soft factors drive real success.

Arlene

This book changed how I view management by proving that soft factors like culture matter more than complex data and rigid org charts.

Paige

This book perfectly explains why focusing on people and customers matters more than just chasing numbers for success.

Glen18

This book challenges rigid management models and shows why soft factors like trust and culture drive real success instead of just numbers.

Christina

Clear structure and useful takeaways. Worth the time.

Penelope

While the ideas are clear, I found some of the corporate examples a bit outdated for today's fast-paced tech startup environment.

Ivory

Practical tips I can apply right away.

Joshua8

Learning about the bias for action changed how I approach stalled projects at work.

Helene

This book made me realize that my company spends too much time analyzing instead of just trying things out quickly.

Hazel

It's great to see that listening to customers really builds long-term loyalty.

Val

This book made me realize how much we waste time analyzing data instead of actually helping customers.

Doris88

This book changed how I view my company by focusing on soft factors like trust and customer connection rather than just rigid data and complex charts. I realized that our obsession with perfect numbers was actually killing our innovation and morale, as seen in the examples of DEC and 3M where simple actions like giving employees autonomy or listening to frontline workers led to massive success. The section on loose-tight control was especially eye-opening because it showed me how we can balance freedom with quality without needing endless bureaucracy or micromanagement. Instead of trying to control every decision, we should focus on protecting our core values and empowering teams to solve problems quickly, which is exactly what the best companies like IBM and Patagonia do to keep their employees engaged and their customers loyal for decades. The idea that failure is a necessary step for learning really helped me stop fearing mistakes in my own work and start seeing them as opportunities to improve our products. Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who feels stuck in a bureaucratic system and wants to bring back the human element that drives real success. It proves that soft factors are actually the hardest part of business to get right.

Oakley

The examples of modern companies adapting these principles make the old ideas feel fresh.

Lamar

The concept of loose-tight control feels like a perfect balance for any team.

Angel7

Understanding that soft factors drive hard results was the most valuable insight here.

Alexander

The advice to prioritize action over endless analysis resonated with my current work.

Blanche86

This book completely changed how I view management by proving that soft factors like trust and culture are actually the hardest drivers of long-term success, not just nice-to-have extras.

Ace

Reading about the 1980s obsession with rigid data and metrics felt like looking in a mirror, as I see the same analysis paralysis killing innovation in my own team today.