Good < Great

In the book Good to Great, author Jim Collins describes Level 5 leaders as someone who “builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will”. He explains why (and to a certain extent how) certain companies are able to make a transition from being just good to truly great. Through vigorous identifying, analyzing, and evaluating different factors and variable, Collins and his team laid out what differentiates the great companies with its competitors.

One of the most significant findings that Collins uncovered was how “Level 5 Leadership” was common in great companies. Relating to my last post on Situational Leadership, I truly believe that the Level 5 Leaders in the companies Collins studied worked diligently in tailoring themselves to best fit the different situations they faced when building up the company. One of the first factors Collins introduced was: “First Who, Then What”. He describes how it is crucial for the leader to get the right people on the team and in the right positions. Doing so, the Level 5 Leaders had to, in one way or another, adapt and adjust themselves while working with different individuals. This allows Level 5 Leaders to: better analyze their subordinates, evaluate whether they fit the company or not, and in which position will they prosper.