Jim Collins Level 5 Leadership

HBR's 10 must reads on leadership. (2011). Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business Review Press.

Article 6: Level 5 Leadership

Central Theme: The most important trait of a great leader is humility. By definition to be humble means to be modest and free from vanity. Jim Collins explores the idea of paradoxical characteristics that make a Level 5 leader (Collins, p.116). According to Collins a level 5 leader is a person that combines “humility and professional will” (Collins p.116). What that essentially means is that the best leaders are humble and they care about making their business or work the best it can be even after they leave their position. Collins mentioned various leaders that combined traits like shyness, modesty, and calmness in combination with will, fearlessness, determination, and ambition. He also explains that these types of leaders do not motivate through charisma but through discipline and strategy. Some leaders, like Smith, tend to be seen as out of place but in reality their work and their ideas create a boost in a company’s success.

Critical Analysis: One thing that I really liked about this type of leader is not that they do not take credit for the success as a whole, but they give credit to the team who works to accomplish a sole vision.

In doing so the leader acknowledges that they cannot do things on their own, but the give a bit of praise to their co-workers, who by other circumstances would not even be spoken of. I think it is impressive who these types of leaders are successful. When I of how a leader is, I never imagine a leader as shy or quiet but instead loud and overly confident. I like the idea that a leader does not have to be outgoing but their ideas must exhibit confidence and

purpose.

Level 5 leaders are the types of leaders that are crucial to have in any area because after they leave the place keeps moving with success. I have not come to know many leaders like this, but the ones that I have met, I think they are extraordinary. I know a pastor who has been working in hollywood for two years along with his wife and children. When I look at what he has done I am in awe. He is a man with a unique sense of style, and his passion for what he does is so contagious, and I can’t help but admire the way he speaks about his team. He builds them and challenges them; he equips them, so they can eventually go and use their talents. He started with a group of four people but now he has over one hundred members in his congregation, so I assume they will be looking for a bigger place soon. A couple articles previous to this one it was mentioned that thousands of books about leadership were published in one year, and I receive leadership advice from him almost every week when he posts advice on Facebook. I don’t know how long he will be in charge of his church and if he will ever plant a new church, but if I were asked if his church would last long without him, I would say that I trust that he will appoint not only one person but a team that will be able to take care church in his absence.

Main takeaways: A leader is important, but a leader cannot do much with a team who can help make the vision become a reality. Anyone who is put in any type of leadership position must remember to be humble, and a person who is more of an introvert can become a great leader so long as they motivate others in one vision. The best way I can put this knowledge into use is by building up people around me, making them feel special and important, and by remembering that there will always be someone who is smarter, taller, and better looking than I am. I should only strive to be the best that I can be.