Good to Great by Jim Collins is another book that has influenced my approach to leadership. It explores why some companies are able to achieve sustained greatness over time while others fail to do so. The research led to the identification of a set of characteristics and behaviors that distinguish great companies from their good counterparts. The book focuses on public commercial companies. As leaders in IT organizations that support a non-profit educational institution, many of the conclusions don’t apply. However, much of the book does provide great insights for leaders like us. Over the next four messages I’ll highlight those that resonate the strongest with me.
Great companies have great leaders
The book argues that the key to achieving greatness lies in the leadership of the organization. Collins and his team identified what they call “Level 5 leadership” as a critical factor in the success of great companies. As you know, this is my strongest belief. You, as a leader, are the largest factor in your team’s success. These leaders were able to create a culture of excellence and a sense of purpose that went beyond individual success. They were able to build enduring organizations that continued to thrive long after they had left. I talk a lot about culture. Culture is the sum of all the behaviors of everybody in the organization. It takes a long time to change culture for the good, but also once a great culture is in place it can withstand periods of poor leadership.
Level 5 leaders
Level 5 leaders, the highest level of leadership, are characterized by a rare combination of personal humility and professional will, and they are able to inspire and motivate their team to achieve greatness. The phrase that has stuck with me is that “great leaders look out the window to praise and look in the mirror to blame.” To me this is accountability. Level 5 leaders are not driven by their own ego or personal gain, but rather by the success of the organization. They are willing to make difficult decisions and take responsibility for the outcomes, even if it means admitting mistakes or failures.
Collins noted that Level 5 leadership is not something that can be taught or learned through traditional leadership training. It is a rare combination of personality traits, values, and skills that are developed over time through a lifetime of experience. However, he emphasized that anyone can aspire to become a Level 5 leader by focusing on developing humility, will, and a commitment to the greater good. Ultimately, our success is judged by NYU’s success.
In addition to leadership, Good to Great emphasizes the importance of having a clear and consistent strategy, a culture of discipline, and a focus on hiring the right people, which we’ll cover in upcoming emails.