Exceptional Leaders are...(hard data)

This research is based on a 6 year study by Jim Collins and his team of the fifty year recrod of 1400 companies on the stock excahge, books reference below. They chose only elven compaies who had to outperform others by a factor of 3, studied what made them excepoitoinal and what made theri leaders exceptional. This is part of theri resutls. Amazingly, they also found these same factores applied to the social sector also. to churches, symphony orchestras, NPOs, etc. Five levels of leadership are identified. Level 1. Highly capable Individuals. Make meaningful contributions based on talents, skills, know0how and work habits. Level 2. Contributing Team Members inject personal capabilities effectively into teams working on group objectives and targets. Level 3. Competent Managers organize people and resources efficiently to pursue some pre-determined objectives. Level 4. Effective Business Leaders generate an intense commitment and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision. Level 5. Executives build greatness by applying a blend of personal humidity and professional will. Key Characteristics of Level 5 leaders: –are a paradox. On one hand they are highly ambitious, but the ambition is fo their organization to excel. They do not let their ego get in the way. Became they are modest about what they contribute personally. They tend to be modest, understating and self-effacing. –are driven. They feel intense need to produce exceptional results on a sustained basis... – build successors so the next generation of leaders will have even greater success... –share the praise in good times but take the blame in bad times 00 which means that people who work with them become incredibly loyal and committed. –are never larger-than-life celebrities because their awe inspiring charisma can smother out the efforts of others. –come from within the organization, because the commitment to build an enduring great company comes from workmanlike diligence and hard work rather than impressive grandstanded moves. Summary: Humility + will = Level 5 leaders “Level 5 leaders are a study in duality: modest and wilful, humble and fearless, To quickly grasp this concept think of United States President Abraham Lincoln (One of the few level 5 presidents in U. S. History). Who never let his ego get in the way of his primary mission for the larger cause of an enduring great nation. Yet those who mistook Mr. Lincoln’s personal modesty, shy nature, and awkward manner as a sign o weakness, found themselves terribly mistaken, to the scale of 250,000 Confederates and 350,000 Union lives, including Lincoln’s own. “ –Summary Good to Great. Jim Collins. –Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don’t.Jim Collins.