The Flywheel Principle

In Jim Collins' awesome book "Good to Great" he explains the flywheel principle.  It is an incredible principle and one every leader should take note of.  Collins is a well respected and accomplished author and leader.  While most of his work deals with corporate experiences in a business setting he outlines principles that every leader could learn from.  "Good to Great" is one of the best leadership books I have ever read.  I highly recommend it to any Leader, Coach or Teacher who is looking to improve their organization.

The Flywheel Principle can be explained this way:  Imagine a giant wheel (think merry go round or very old time grinding mill with large wooden spokes sticking out).  It is your job to get the flywheel spinning.  Keep in mind it is gigantic and weighs tons (literally).  It is a huge job and one that certainly will not be easy, even with great effort.  The first day you walk in to the room with the flywheel it is obvious it hasn't been used in awhile.  There are cobwebs everywhere and the wheel itself shows signs of misuse and inactivity.  It is rusty and clearly not in great working order.  It will spin, but will need to be used to get it back in shape.  Remember, your job is to get it moving and to keep it running.

You put your hand on one of the spokes and begin to push.  It is even heavier than expected.  You push and strain to no avail.  Never a quitter you keep it up for about 45 minutes and yet the thing hasn't budged.  After a quick break where you contemplate quitting you decide to give it another try.  You are more determined than ever and finally the creaky thing has budged an inch or so, but immediately settles back into its original place.  Buoyed by the experience of making it move you redouble your determination (just the fact that you know it can move is an exciting and inspiring revelation) and now within  a few minutes you not only make it move but it doesn't go back to resting.  A few more hours of work and it has made a quarter turn.  Now spectators are forming to watch this seeming miracle of effort.  Now that you have company (and a few people to impress), some increased belief and forward momentum you manage to get the next quarter turn completed in only half an hour.  The next quarter turn takes on 10 minutes and the final quarter is completed in 2 minutes as you gain encouragement and the machinery begins to loosen up.  You also have the flywheel moving which means you have forward momentum working in your favor.

The spectators are so inspired that a few join in and grab a spoke.  Now that the wheel is moving, the machine is operating, and others have joined in the next rotation only takes 2 minutes total.  What seemed impossible only hours earlier is happening right before your eyes.  You have inspired others to help and things are moving.  On the third rotation your energy is wearing down and you fear that if you take a break the wheel will grind to a halt.  But to your surprise there are more and more spectators eager to join in.  You have inspired the crowd to join in the work and while you sit out there are other people ready to join the process of spinning the wheel.  With the forward momentum, the fresh workers with fresh energy and the belief that it is possible the wheel spins fully in only a minute.  Now you are ready to rejoin the work.  Because of the effort expanded on the initial push you are much stronger physically and mentally and find the pushing a breeze on the next rotation.  It takes only 30 seconds to make the wheel spin.  Somewhere on the 5th rotation (which takes only about 20 seconds) you realize you are barely pushing.   The forward momentum created earlier in the effort is doing most of the work.

Moral of the Story:  In the beginning the work will be hard and likely lonely.  You will be working with substandard processes or worn out machinery.  You will work incredibly hard to get things started.  Keep with it.  Several things will happen:  1.)  You will be gaining vital strength  2.)  You will begin to inspire others to join in the work.  3.) Your experiences will inspire you to believe that it is possible to accomplish the task.

Whether starting a new position or looking for a new start in an old position:  Hang in there, Keep grinding.  Your work is not in vain.