On Leadershp: Collins Post #7

Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve by Jim Collins (originally published in the HBR, 2001). By now most leaders have heard of Jim Collins’ book Good to Great, as much I suspect as an aspiration for their corporate visions as a good read of solid principles. In either case, Collins will go down in history as a leadership guru. One key finding that his research produced was the ”Level 5 leader”—a strange, uncanny ability of the best corporate leaders of all time to have a magical blend of both humility and a fierce will—a strange finding indeed. The 5 levels consist of Level 1: the highly capable individual; Level 2: contributing team member; Level 3: competent manager; Level 4: effective leader; Level 5: executive. To get to Level 5, Collins offers the following advice, gleaned from his research: Attend to people first (get the right people on the bus); deal with the brutal facts (The Stockdale Principle); push the corporate or organizational flywheel; and, use the “hedgehog concept” by looking at what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about, and how you can make a living at that.