¶ … Level 5 leadership?
Level 5 leaders blend deep personal humility with professional will and determination to get things done
Level 5 leadership is credited with leading 11 companies to true greatness, as defined by Jim Collins as taking an organization with a mediocre market share to out-performing the market and/or dominating its industry
These Level 5 leaders often shun the public spotlight and put their company's success above their egos and personal financial interests. Lee Iacocca was a showy leader, but after his initial success, his focus got diverted. Chrysler stock fell 31%. Iacocca also demanded stock options, a private jet and other company perks that had little to do with real success.
Example of a Level 5 leader: Darwin Smith of Kimberly Clark
Upon assuming the helm of the company, Smith made radical decisions to make the company solvent and modernized.
Smith sold the company's signature mills, got out of the coated paper market and focused instead upon consumer products like Kleenex and Huggies.
Despite Wall Street's initial downgrade of the company stock, Smith held his ground, and now Kimberly Clark beats rival Proctor & Gamble in 6 out of 8 product categories.
Level 5 leadership is not enough
Company vision must be clear
Must be a belief in the future ( POW "Stockdale Paradox")
Change is often slow and incremental ("Flywheel")
Simplicity of direction and goals (hedgehogs, not foxes)
Judicious but forward-thinking use of new technology
Discipline
Level 5 leaders have tremendous personal will combined with a lack of personal self-serving egotism
Abbot Labs: ending nepotism, by company insider and family heir George Cain. Risky, radical move but resulted in Abbot outperforming Merck and Pfizer
Cork Walgreen turning the modern Walgreen's into a pharmacy rather than a general store/soda shop
These leaders made necessary decisions and risked their personal popularity for the sake of their companies
Level 5 leadership is difficult to embody: Difficult to change a person's character
Selflessness seems, in many ways, innate in these leaders
Many had personal turning-points before becoming Level 5, such as Smith's battle with cancer
However, all leaders can try to put Level 5 values into action
Leadership Theory in a Changing and Globalizing Marketplace Modern business practice is permeated by the complexities of a changing world. The impact of globalization on the cultural makeup of companies, the effects of the global recession on the conventions of daily business and the evolutionary shifts brought on by emergent technology all call for an orientation toward simultaneous stability and adaptability. Only under the stewardship of a qualified, communicative, flexible and
Leadership Portfolio Political tactics are essential for quality leadership. It is important to be tactful in all situations, and to understand the confounding variables that can impact communication clarity. Politics refers to skillful communications and strategic decision-making. Compromises are critical to good politics. For example, we were working with a large team of over 25 people. Each person had a clearly defined role, but there came a time when egos started
Leadership and Organizations: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs The theories of leadership date way back to when dynasties existed and people were led by kings. The leader took control and made decisions whenever disputes arose. The question of leadership qualities may not have been all that important then, but people still considered some to be better leaders than others. It would be prudent to begin by giving the fundamentals of the
Leadership is defined as the procedures that individuals use as authority over others to achieve an objective. The action also provides direction in a manner that makes an organization more coherent and cohesive. Three-Skill Approach This approach refers to three skills including human, technical, and conceptual, which form the fundamental personal skills required in leadership. Technical skills involve proficiency in and knowledge about some defined activities or work. It includes analytical ability,
Leadership, Team Building & Communication Leadership theories continue to evolve as the complexity, nature and scope of organizations shift from command-and-control structures to more agile frameworks for managing change. The pace of disruptive innovation is accelerating, forcing reliance on the latest theories of leadership to keep organizations competitive in rapidly changing markets. The intent of this analysis is to evaluate the traditional, contemporary and emerging leadership theories and interpersonal forms of
Leadership is the process of directing the behavior of others toward the achievement of some general objectives. Effective leadership is very important for molding a group of people into a team, shaping them into a force that serves as a sustainable business benefit. Effective leaders have an inspirational vision. Forethought and change expectation is their hallmark. Leaders know how to make people function in a joint fashion, and how to
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now