Level 5 Leadership (Essay Sample)

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Introduction
Principally, Jim Collins focuses on leadership as a crucial element that can help take a company from fair performance to greatness. Moreover, based on his experience that spans over 20 years one cannot overlook his input on the greater understanding of how companies create and sustain competitive advantage (Collins, pg. 1). In essence, Collins identifies seven factors that are significant if a company is to succeed, but he opts to concentrate on leadership. Furthermore, Collins argument is on the basis that for a company to attain greatness it must have a level 5 leader. Significantly, such a leader should exemplify genuine personal humility and comprehensive professional will blend. Concurrently, in the past the popular belief was that CEOs are usually charismatic and great figures. However, Collins came in and introduced a contrasting ideology.
In essence, Collins starts by giving an example of Darwin E. Smith’s selection in 1971 to be the CEO of Kimberly-Clark that had seen its stock fall 36% from the market level in the span of 20 years. Significantly, many people including the company’s lawyer though the board had made an ill-fated decision with the company’s director reminding Smith that he missed some critical qualities needed for the position. However, Smith went ahead to lead the company for 20 years through which the firm underwent superb transformation. Moreover, he turned the business into consumer products’ leading company in the world. Furthermore, under his leadership the company’s generated returns from cumulative stock were 4.1 times better than other players in the general market.
Significantly, Darwin Smith is a classic example of a level 5 leader who takes a company from good to truly worthy the name great. In essence, from the example, one can see that a level 5 leader is one who possess both personal humility and intense personal zeal blended. Moreover, such individuals play a significant role in igniting the urge to transform every element in a company from good to exceptional. In principle, level 5 is the representation of the highest level of executive capabilities’ hierarchy. Concurrently, leaders at lower levels can perform well with a significant degree of success. However, such leaders lack a quality unique to level 5 type of individuals to catapult an organization from poor performance to respectable levels.
Not What You Would Expect
In essence, level 5 leadership is not the only element that propels an organization to be successful. However, even with skilled personnel, the latest technology, and a viable market share a firm still requires a level 5 leader who will bring the transformation (Collins, pg. 2). Moreover, this is because even with all resources, an ill-equipped manager will not be able to utilize what he/she does not have to take advantage of the opportunities the external environment presents. In principle, Collins tries to use Smith, who was a level 5 leader to showcase the impact of having a level 5 leader at the helm of one’s company. Significantly, explaining that Kimberly-Clark as a firm did not need to employ new workforce shows that leadership when at its best can pull a company to greatness.
Principally, Darwin Smith is used by Collins to disapprove the traditional belief that a CEO should be a character who possesses superb qualities that make him/her larger than life. Moreover, citing Smith’s character of shyness, awkwardness, and lacking pretense, he is able to convince readers that one doesn’t have to stand out in line to be a level 5 leader but the given individual should possess comprehensive personal zeal and personal humility that will propel him/her to transform any given company. Furthermore, the author tries to show how hard working and determined exceptional leaders are by encompassing on Smith’s work in the farm to pay his tuition fee to the extent that even after losing a finger he still showed up for work the next day.
Significantly, the author captures Darwin Smith’s will to succeed by giving the directive Smith gave for the firm to sell all its mills so that it would invest this money in consumer business. According to Collins, many signaled the move as silly and misinformed. However, 20 years later Kimberly-Clark was a force to reckon with owning Scott Paper while completely running over Procter & Gamble. Concurrently, this is a crucial evidence to show that level 5 leaders take risks that to the normal eye it may seem stupid but knowing the strategic intent in the move the leader knows at the long last it will pay.
Humility + Will = Level 5
In essence, one can sum up that level 5 is a product of combining humility and will. Concurrently, the author uses Abraham Lincoln to push the ideology of level 5 leaders being willful and modest, fearless and shy at the same time (Collins, pg. 4). For instance, history proves that Lincoln never allowed his ego to be a stumbling block to the achievement of his ambition of seeing a unified nation. Similarly, many people thought of the man to be "a quiet, peaceful, shy figure" and from such many took him for a weak individual and the rude awakening was the mere fact that in the end his ambition paid off with the United States acting as his successful result of his commitment to the once threatened purpose.
Concurrently, Collins uses Colman M. Mockler the then CEO of Gillette, who faced and battled his way out of three attempts to take over the company. In essence, many people at first observing his gentle, shy, and courteous character misinterpreted such for inner weakness. However, those who came to face him in battle realized that it was never the same. Moreover, as the story goes the reader gets to understand that even when all senior executives were ready sell their shares to outside investors, Mockler never gave in but instead opted to fight for Gillette’s future greatness as he envisioned in his mind. In principle, Gillette is as great as it is today because of the resilience and unshakable belief in the dream he had for the company.
Not by Level 5 Alone
In principle, research shows that it is not level 5 alone that propels a company from mere good to greatness. Moreover, there are other elements when combined as a package that facilitate this achievement (Collins, pg. 5). Significantly, there must exist a symbiotic relationship between all other resources in a firm and level 5 leadership for any success to be noted. First and foremost, the level 5 leader must get the right people on the business and from there figure out the best strategy to utilize. Concurrently, the next phase is building absolute faith in the company and the vision the leader has towards the future. In essence, the third critical move is to be consistent in pushing the wheel. Furthermore, evidence shows that at first it will be hard, and it is at this point that the zeal to succeed keeps a level 5 leader pressing on.
Concurrently, the fourth element is a having a hedgehog concept that is simple and easy to follow for many individuals. Significantly, this attitude allows the leaders to concentrate all resources on a given idea as Darwin Smith did with Kimberly-Clark. Moreover, the level 5leader requires a healthy relationship with technology. In essence, the leader should be able to be an accelerator of technology where he/she knows the best promising technology and investing in its innovation and how it will help boost the hedgehog concept. Furthermore, the last element that binds level 5 leadership to greatness is creating a disciplined culture. Similarly, with disciplined human resource a firm is destined to have a workforce whose output is good and as demanded. Principally, this creates a good image for consumers that in turn help a firm, secure loyalty amidst its target market.
A Compelling Modesty
In essence, Mockler is an excellent example of the modesty accompanying level 5 leaders. Moreover, when asked about their significant contributions and how much they have helped a given firm, Collins explains that they will likely deflect such praises to their counterparts and employees explaining how they were crucial in the firm's success (Collins, pg. 6). Similarly, it is their humility that one level 5 leader said that he believed anyone in the company could do his job better than he did. Concurrently, it is this trait that makes such individuals modest and great to work around since they tend to appreciate everyone’s contribution making most employees if not all to try and be more productive.
Principally, the writer gives example of Dunlap, Scott Paper manager who was so outspoken on his success yet at the helm of the firm he quickly sold the company pocketing $100 million in 605 days thus, praising himself. However, Darwin Smith who is the level 5 leader who bought the firm out was more successful yet never uttered a word about his great achievements. Significantly, this example shows how leaders of ordinary caliber will be quick to boast their monetary success yet the real level 5 leaders never pursue the fame that in all essence they deserve.
An Unwavering Resolve
According to Collins, level 5 leaders are not only of humble character but also possess tremendous professional will. In essence, the author gives the example of the CEO of Abbot Laboratories George Cain, who took over a near death company and transformed it into a global competitor (Collins, pg. 7). Significantly, the author tries to show how through Cain’s persistence and inspired standards were essential to turning the firm around. Furthermore, as a leader Cain never accepted the traditional belief of good just being good enough, but believed that it was the duty of everyone to give their very best....