Level 5 Leadership: Concept and Clarifications
I do not turn on TV for months as a matter of habit.I turn it on when I hear of some news commanding attention of the entire nation or those of my interests which are not many.But the news related to Chandrayaan depicting heroic deed of ISRO headed by Mr.K. Shivan prompted me to see on TV the stupendous feat of our scientists adding glory to the pride of the Nation. I saw on TV the ISRO head K. Sivan. Though being head of the prestigious institution that ISRO is Mr. Sivan appeared to be a self-effacing, quiet, reserve person but with indomitable will and focused professional commitment. After that we were made to know through media about his rural and humble background and the hardship that he braved to overcome with his burning desire to tread the path of success. While watching K. Sivan on TV I was reminded of a Leadership style what Jim Collins termed Level 5 Leadership.
The leader is simply a basic requirement for an organization to survive as such let alone run, grow or prosper. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, A leader is a dealer in hope.' Hence you can't be called a leader if you fail to dispel negativity and spread hope among the people surrounding you. You only spread negativity by way of being unduly authoritative and display of fear of punishment and hubris. A leader knows how to keep their followers continuously motivated and dedicated to the task assigned by him to his juniors. That leader could be the chief executive of a company or head of a government office or Institution. They discharge the role of a leader by virtue of their position in the company/organization. But being a formal head does not make one a leader who, for that role to play, must act as a source of inspiration and hope.His behaviour and interaction with peers and subordinates should be that of just a senior colleague working in the group with desirable humility and commitment to task notwithstanding.
Level 5 Leadership, in essence, according to Jim Collins, is
* A leader must have humility. His humility is genuine and is not to be mistaken for weak or ineffective but beneath that humility there lies commitment to the accomplishment of task collectively.
*He should not seek success for their own glory.
*He shares credit for success but he is the first to accept blame for mistake.
*He is often shy but fearless when it comes to making decisions especially ones that most other people consider risky.
But why is this style of running the organisation called Level 5 Leadership?
It refers to the highest level of hierarchy of executive capabilities according to a ladder of executive competence related to Leadership.
Jim Collins explained it in his well researched article named"Good to Great" that hypothetically there are two categories of persons. One category is that of people having no seed of Level 5 Leadership and the other having seeds of the latter. This seed when properly nurtured turns out to be a mature tree as described below -
Level 1: Highly Capable Individual
Choosing right type of person showing early sign of capability can be encouraged to become a Highly productive Individual making productive contribution through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits.
Level 2: Contributing Team Member
Besides being capable individually the next level of executive competence is when you become able to contribute to the achievement of group objective. You become capable as well as willing to work effectively with others in a group setting.
Level 3: Competent Manager
Your group contribution should gradually grow in such a way the group starts to believe in you and allows you to organise not only themselves but resources also towards the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.
Level 4: Effective Leader
It is graduating to be called an effective leader catalysing commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision. He stimulates the group to high performance standards.
Level 5 :Executive
It is being mature enough to keep the entire personnel of all rank constantly motivated to the accomplishment of task against all odds. Difficulties for him is opportunity to excell collectively. It is all about filling and leading the organization and personnel with passion.
Therefore, Level 5 Leadership style should be learnt for understandable reasons as it doesn't leave the followers ruffled and peeved prone to throw out the leader himself given an opportunity.
R.R.Prabhakar.
19.09.2019.
The leader is simply a basic requirement for an organization to survive as such let alone run, grow or prosper. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, A leader is a dealer in hope.' Hence you can't be called a leader if you fail to dispel negativity and spread hope among the people surrounding you. You only spread negativity by way of being unduly authoritative and display of fear of punishment and hubris. A leader knows how to keep their followers continuously motivated and dedicated to the task assigned by him to his juniors. That leader could be the chief executive of a company or head of a government office or Institution. They discharge the role of a leader by virtue of their position in the company/organization. But being a formal head does not make one a leader who, for that role to play, must act as a source of inspiration and hope.His behaviour and interaction with peers and subordinates should be that of just a senior colleague working in the group with desirable humility and commitment to task notwithstanding.
Level 5 Leadership, in essence, according to Jim Collins, is
* A leader must have humility. His humility is genuine and is not to be mistaken for weak or ineffective but beneath that humility there lies commitment to the accomplishment of task collectively.
*He should not seek success for their own glory.
*He shares credit for success but he is the first to accept blame for mistake.
*He is often shy but fearless when it comes to making decisions especially ones that most other people consider risky.
But why is this style of running the organisation called Level 5 Leadership?
It refers to the highest level of hierarchy of executive capabilities according to a ladder of executive competence related to Leadership.
Jim Collins explained it in his well researched article named"Good to Great" that hypothetically there are two categories of persons. One category is that of people having no seed of Level 5 Leadership and the other having seeds of the latter. This seed when properly nurtured turns out to be a mature tree as described below -
Level 1: Highly Capable Individual
Choosing right type of person showing early sign of capability can be encouraged to become a Highly productive Individual making productive contribution through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits.
Level 2: Contributing Team Member
Besides being capable individually the next level of executive competence is when you become able to contribute to the achievement of group objective. You become capable as well as willing to work effectively with others in a group setting.
Level 3: Competent Manager
Your group contribution should gradually grow in such a way the group starts to believe in you and allows you to organise not only themselves but resources also towards the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.
Level 4: Effective Leader
It is graduating to be called an effective leader catalysing commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision. He stimulates the group to high performance standards.
Level 5 :Executive
It is being mature enough to keep the entire personnel of all rank constantly motivated to the accomplishment of task against all odds. Difficulties for him is opportunity to excell collectively. It is all about filling and leading the organization and personnel with passion.
Therefore, Level 5 Leadership style should be learnt for understandable reasons as it doesn't leave the followers ruffled and peeved prone to throw out the leader himself given an opportunity.
R.R.Prabhakar.
19.09.2019.
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