In an era of celebrity CEOs and social media bravado, the Collins model suggests that the most sustainable turnarounds come from quiet, reserved, even shy individuals who possess a ferocious work ethic. Think of Darwin Smith at Kimberly-Clark or Colman Mockler at Gillette—men who were virtually unknown to the public but who generated staggering shareholder returns.
At the heart of Collins’ best-selling book, Good to Great , lies the concept of Level 5 Leadership. Before Collins, the prevailing image of a successful CEO was often a larger-than-life figure—a celebrity leader with a booming voice and a massive ego. Collins’ research shattered this archetype. jim collins leadership
Collins and his research team analyzed 1,435 companies to find those that made the leap from average returns to extraordinary returns (stock returns at least three times the general market) for 15 consecutive years. The "secret sauce" was a specific type of leader at the helm. In an era of celebrity CEOs and social
Through rigorous analysis of companies that transitioned from mediocrity to excellence, Collins discovered that the most successful leaders possessed a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. Before Collins, the prevailing image of a successful
Great leadership is quiet. It is about setting up successors for even greater success, ensuring the company thrives long after the leader has departed.