The best leaders are not always charismatic
"Level 5 leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves
and into the larger goal of building a great company. It's not that
Level 5 leaders have no ego or self-interest. Indeed, they are
incredibly ambitious - but their ambition is first and foremost
for the institution, not themselves."
- Jim Collins. Good to Great. 2001.
Jim Collins researched leadership styles in companies that had performed the best over the long term
and found a special kind of leader - a leader that usually nobody had heard of. That is to say, these
companies were not led by people who were 'well known' for their leadership, well publicised, and
fitting the stereotype of the 'strong visionary leader'. Instead they were hardworking, modest
team-workers who didn't conform to the classic leader image.
According to Jim Collins, a Level 5 Leader "builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical
blend of personal humility and professional will." Every one of the corporations that Collins
identified as transforming itself from 'good' to 'great' had level 5 leaders in the critical
transition phase. None of the comparison companies did. Furthermore, the colourful, dominant,
celebrity leaders, are effective in the short term but do not achieve 'good to great' status
for their companies, according to his research.
He describes Level 5 leaders as being timid and ferocious, shy and fearless and modest,
with a fierce, unwavering commitment to high standards. Characteristics common to
Level 5 leaders include: humility, will, ferocious resolve, and the tendency to
give credit to others while assigning blame to themselves.
Andrea: Unhappy the land that has no heroes.
Galileo: No, unhappy the land that needs heroes.
- Bertolt Brecht. The Life of Galileo.
Read about the Six Leadership Styles
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Note: This web page is not intended to provide comprehensive coverage of the subject, merely a brief introduction to provoke thought and to lead to a more in depth understanding and application of the topic, either through further reading - or from me as your management consultant, executive trainer or personal coach in a consultancy project, training course, workshop or seminar.
References and Further Reading
Collins, Jim, "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't".
Random House, London, 2001.
Collins, Jim, "Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve".
Harvard Business Review, January 2001.