Collins’ 5 Levels of Leadership

Jim Collins evaluated a number of companies for his book Good to Great. They looked at 1,435 over 40 years. The looked for companies with 15 years of steady growth, a single point of change, and 15 years of phenomenal growth. They evaluated the financial records to find great companies.
Collins and his team of researchers did not begin their research to find level 5 leaders. In fact, he frequently states in his book that he told the team to ignore the executives. Yet, the evidence consistently indicated the need to evaluate the leadership of those companies that went from good to great. The research indicated that ten of the eleven companies that became great possessed level 5 leaders at their helm.
5 Levels of Leadership
Jim Collins describes 5 levels of leadership within corporations. Quoting from page 20 of his book Good to Great:

• “Level 1 Highly Capable Individual: Makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills, and good work habits.
• Level 2 Contributing Team Member: Contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives and works effectively with others in a group setting.
• Level 3 Competent Manager: Organizes people and resources toward the effective an efficient pursuit  of pre-determined objectives.
• Level 4 Effective Leader: Catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear compelling vision, stimulating higher performance standards.
• Level 5 Executive: Builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.”

Characteristics of Level 5 Leaders
Collins team of researchers identified several traits of a level 5 leader. (Once again, I summarize from chapter 2 Level 5 Leadership of Good to Great pages 39-40 First Edition 2001):

1. Exhibit a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will
2. Ambitious on behalf of the company, but not themselves
3. Set up their successors for greater success in the next generation
4. Display a compelling modesty, are self-effacing, and understated
5. Fanatically driven, infected, with an incurable need to produce sustained results
6. Show a workmanlike diligence—more plow horse than show horse
7. Attribute success to others, but accept blame for flaws

Interestingly, Collins states “I believe that potential level 5 leaders exist all around us, if we just know what to look for, and that many people have the potential to evolve into Level 5.” (Jim Collins, Good to Great, 2001, page 39).
Great leaders cannot imitate or fake the traits described above. You can evolve into level 5 by nurturing the traits within yourself. I strongly suggest that current and potential leaders study Good to Great and How the Mighty Fall. I also suggest you study the articles on leadership listed on Jim Collins web site.
Join me next Monday when we discuss Kotter’s leadership principles