The book Good to Great by Jim Collins (sold 3 million hardcover copies since publication and has been translated into 35 languages) embarks on researching business companies that have transformed from maintaining 'good' status to 'great' status. His team’s findings indicate that eleven out of eleven CEO's of these great companies researched held a leadership style that is unique from society’s idealistic charismatic, ego-driven view. Collins defines this leader as a Level 5 Executive - "builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will" (Collins p.20). Moreover, level 5 leaders "are incredibly ambitions - but their ambition is first and foremost for the institute, not themselves." (Collins p.21) He uses words such as modest, willful, humble, gracious, mild-mannered, understanding and fearless to define this leader.
The Window and the Mirror is what Collins refers to as emphasis of luck a great leader would divert his/her misfortunes or blessings. He found that the level 5 leaders would always look to other factors (a person, event, or good luck) when success was enjoyed, yet never blamed bad luck when success was absent.
Collin points out five key attributes/characteristics pertaining to level 5 leaders: demonstrates compelling modesty while never boasting, acts with calm determination, channels ambition into company not self, sets up successor for greater success, and credits success to external factors (employees, good luck).
With only a summary, the thought of how the greatest leaders in our business world are transforming companies with humility, modesty, and passion for greatest. Makes you think. Do I attain these traits?
About Me
- W. James Kelly
- This dude loves Jesus and seeks Jesus' fame and glory more than anything else in life! He's a husband to a great woman named Karen, a student at MacDiv and an intern at Lincoln Road. If you're ever interested to chat more, drop me a line at wjameskelly@gmail.com
2 comments:
This is interesting, but I think the context of Collins' audience makes it vulnerable to misinterpretation. Most of us know bettter than to claim credit for our successes in any public setting. Just watch any awards show and hear the way people list those who helped them along the way, but it so often sounds very hollow.
In Mere Christianity (chpt.8 The Great Sin) C. S. Lewis offers the best exploration of humility I've ever come across. I'd quote it here, but everyone should own a copy of the book and read it for themselves.
Thank you for the recommendation of Mere Christianity. I have often been told to read it.
I agree the novel is vulnerable to misinterpretation based on audience, yet its results and core message, both fascinating and applicable, can be related very well to ministry and our personal life. Would you agree?
Post a Comment