We have always associated leadership with a very visible and popular
role which gives you recognition and a larger than life status as a
leader however the level 5 leadership proposes quite opposing
characteristics of a successful leader. Jim Collins and his research
team were exploring the factors that made good companies great way back
in the 1960s. It was then that they stumbled upon the Level 5 leaders
who were invariably at the helm of affairs of all the companies which
went on to become great in their respective fields. Who exactly is a
Level 5 leader? Collins describes Level 5 leader as Humility + Will =
Level 5. They are the nurturing leaders who do not want credit but want
success to sustain over a longer period of time, long after they are
gone. Level 5 leaders are modest, shy and fearless and possess the capability to transform an organization from good to great without portraying themselves as wizards with magic wands. They prefer talking about the company and the contribution of other people but rarely about their role or achievements. Let us have a look at the hierarchical level of leadership identified: |
There are certain actions performed by Level 5 leaders which separate them from the rest of the leaders and senior executives.
- The first step if their ability to identify and include right people with them towards achieving goals. Unlike the traditional method of building strategies and then looking for the right people to carry them out, they take a different route. It’s about getting the right people on board and then deciding on the destination.
- They also do not shy away from facing and accepting brutal truths and realities of data, numbers and situations but at the same time they do not lose hope of a better future.
- They also strive towards aligning consistent efforts towards a goal, rather than giving one massive push they believe in small but firm pushes to bring in the momentum.
- They also exercise their judgment to understand an aspect, in depth and thoroughly, rather than burdening themselves with myriad information.
- They practice and encourage a disciplined approach towards their work life and as visionaries use carefully identified technologies to give their businesses strategic advantage.
So leaders who cannot look beyond their personal role, fame, achievements etc can hardly become Level 5 leaders. Only when they can put the larger good ahead of them, they transcend to the next level. This transition is not general but can be brought by some tragic accident, near death experiences or a life changing incident, as came across by Collins in his research. It would be appropriate to mention the name of M.K. Gandhi to understand it better. For Gandhi who had lived a comfortable life with a law degree from England had no experience of being oppressed by the ruling class until he was thrown out of a train despite carrying a first class ticket. His transition began from there, which later made him actively participate in the Indian Freedom Struggle.
Level 5 leadership is difficult to find and leaders who display it are a cut above the rest.