Level 5 Leadership

You can accomplish anything in life, provided

that you do not mind who gets the credit.
Harry S. Truman

Jim Collins
Faculty member at Stanford Graduate School of
Business
Served as senior executive at CNN International
Founded a management laboratory in Boulder,
Colorado conducts multi year research
projects
Student and teacher of lasting great companies
Business consultant, author, lecturer on
business growth and sustainability

Jim Collins
Books:
How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some
Companies Never Give In
Good to Great
Built to Last
Good to Great and the Social Sectors
Beyond Entrepreneurship

Level 5 Hierarchy
LEVEL 5
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 2
Member
LEVEL 1

Level 5 Executive
Effective Leader
Competent Manager
Contributing Team

- Highly capable individual

Humility + Will = Level 5

leadership

Examples of Level 5
Executives
Abraham Lincoln
Darwin Smith Kimberly Clark
Colman Mockler - Gillette

Darwin E Smith
CEO of Kimberly Clark
KC before Darwin Smith was a mediocre
player Middling Paper industry
Return fell 36% below General stock market

Ambition- Level 5 VS.

Comparison
Level 5 leaders have ambition for the company
and its success
Level 5 leaders set up company for success in
the future
Comparison leaders have ambition for
themselves
Comparison leaders set up company for failure in
the future

Modesty Level 5 VS.

Comparison
Level 5 leaders do not promote themselves
Level 5 leaders are not interested in
credit/recognition
Comparison leaders are very I-centric
Comparison leaders want credit/recognition
in magazines, interviews, photographs

Level 5 Unwavering Resolve

Level 5 is not only about humility and
self-less ness
Level 5 always does whatever it takes to
make the company great
Fire Relatives
End Lasting Traditions
Fight off corporate raiders

The Window and Mirror

Effect
Window- Credit outside themselves in good
situations
Mirror- To take responsibility in bad
situations
Level 5 leaders tend to attribute luck for
success rather than their own efforts

Common Mistakes Companies Make

Select over-the-top dazzling celebrity leaders

and over look quiet modest Level 5 leaders
Thinking a high-profile outside leader can
come in and shake up the place
10 of 11 Level 5 CEOs came from inside the
company

Can You Learn to be a Level 5 Leader?

Two types of people: those who do not have

the seed of Level 5 and those who do
Without Seed: Work will always be about what
they get fame, money, power
With Seed: These can evolve under the right
circumstances to be Level 5 self-reflection,
personal development, a mentor