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Level 5 Leadership

  • Frank Manfre
  • Oct 8
  • 2 min read
Jim Collins identified the traits of highly effective business leaders in Good to Great
Jim Collins identified the traits of highly effective business leaders in Good to Great

 

In the bestselling book Good to Great by Jim Collins, the term Level 5 Leader refers to a type of leader who combines personal humility with professional will - a rare combination that Collins and his research team identified as crucial in taking companies from good to great. Collins emphasizes that unlike flamboyant leaders - think Lee Iacoca or John DeLorean - Level 5 leaders often prefer to remain understated and deflect attention from themselves, opting to lead by inspiring standards rather than a charismatic personality. They are often seen as quiet, humble, and even shy, yet possess an unwavering resolve to achieve the best long-term results for their organization.

 

Traits of Level 5 Leaders

  • Humble, quiet, modest

  • Focused on company success, not personal ego

  • Willing to make tough decisions

  • Give credit to others for success

  • Take full responsibility for failures

  • Willpower - They made hard choices for the long-term good

  • Self-Effacing - Often shunned the spotlight

  • Disciplined - Created cultures of excellence and accountability

  • Successors - Chose strong successors to ensure lasting greatness

 

Notable Examples of Level 5 Leaders in Good to Great

Here are some of the real-life executives Collins uses to illustrate Level 5 Leadership, how many do you recognize?:


  • Darwin Smith (Kimberly-Clark): Transformed the company by shifting focus from paper mills to consumer products, leading to significant stock returns.

  • David Maxwell (Fannie Mae): Took over a failing company and led its turnaround, even redirecting his own retirement package back to the company's foundation.

  • Colman Mockler (Gillette)

  • George Cain (Abbott Laboratories)

  • Joseph F. Cullman (Philip Morris): Led the company to market dominance, attributing success to others and external factors rather than himself.

  • David Packard (HP)

  • Katherine Graham (Washington Post)

  • William McKnight (3M)

  • Jim Burke (Johnson & Johnson)

  • Sam Walton (Walmart)

  • Bill Allen (Boeing)

  • Charles Coffin (GE) 


These are the types of leaders people willing follow and are inspired by. If you can find a job with a boss like this, jump on it! If you're in a leadership role, consider embracing these traits.


Frank Manfre

Job Search Sherpa & Career Transition Coach





 
 
 

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