2. Who is a level 5 leader?
An individual who blends extreme personal
humility with intense professional will.
3. The Level 5 Hierarchy
The Level 5 leader sits on top of a hierarchy of capabilities and is, a
necessary requirement for transforming an organization from good
to great. But what lies beneath? Four other layers, each one
appropriate in its own right but none with the power of Level 5.
Individuals do not need to proceed sequentially through each level
of the hierarchy to reach the top, but to be a full-fledged Level 5
requires the capabilities of all the lower levels, plus the special
characteristics of Level 5.
4. Level 4
Effective Leader
Catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision; stimulates the group
to high performance standards.
Level 3
Competent Manager
Organizes people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined
objectives.
Level 2
Contributing Team Member
Contributes to the achievement of group objectives; works effectively with others in a group setting.
Level 1
Highly Capable Individual
Makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills, and good work
habits.
6. Personal Humility Professional Will
- Compelling modesty - Superb results through the team
- Never boastful inspite of achievement. - Transition from good to great
- Acts with calm determination - Unwavering determination to do what needs to
- Motivates through actions rather than words be done to produce the best long-term impact.
- Channels ambition into the company, not self - Will stand for nothing but a great entity.
- Always takes decisions keeping the long term - Will not settle for ordinary.
future in mind.
- Never blames – only takes action. - Looks out the window and not into the
- Takes responsibility – looks into the mirror mirror to give credit to other people, luck,
not our of the window! hard work and external factors.
7. Can you become a level 5 leader?
Yes, if you aspire to be one!
And know what being such
a leader can do to your
entity!
8. How?
1. Develop Humility:
-Level 5 leaders are authoritative and firm when they
have to be but very humble about what they do.
-They know how to give their people credit and also encourage
people to do better through positive feedback.
- Humility matter. Even when it comes to the people you
recruit in the organization!
9. 2. Ask for help:
- Learning to ask for help is a STRENGTH.
- Remember the Guy Kawasaki quote that "A players recruit
A+ players, while B players recruit C players". If you're
recruiting A+ players, why wouldn't you take full advantage of
their skills? (The truth is that if you can recruit A+
people successfully and get the best from them,
then you've become an A+ manager.)
10. 3. Take Responsibility:
-Take responsibility for the mistakes and failures of your
team.
- You really can’t make excuses.
- Realizing the power of discipline will help you take
responsibility.
11. 4. Get the right people:
- Level 5 leaders depend on people.
- They know who their best people are.
- They coach people on their team to develop their
potential.
12. 5. Develop Discipline:
- They stick to their resolve, no matter how hard the course of
action is.
- Their values drive discipline.
- If you know in your heart that you're right, then don't
let naysayers dissuade you from a course of action. It's
always important to listen to differing opinions, of
course, but don't let fear be your driving motivator
when you make, or change, a decision.
13. Lastly, add the human element
to what you do
PASSION AND LOVE.
Level 5 leaders LOVE what they do and this gets
transmitted to the team with ease.
Don’t be scared to show your love/passion/belief in
what you are doing. It is who a level 5 leader is!
Communicate your team purpose constantly!
14. What else does the leader
and team need to go from
mediocre to ideal?
15. The Hedge hog concept
The fox knows little things reasonable well but the
hedgehog knows only one big thing really well.
The fox is complex and the hedgehog simple.
BREAK-THROUGHS require a simple hedge-hog like
understanding of:
1. What you can be the best at and why?
2. What ignites the passion of the people working for you.
16. A culture of discipline
Disciplined people – This can make hierarchy and your
structures work.
Disciplined thought – The right thought – people
thinking the right things because of the way the leaders
have inducted them. People having the right
understanding of our essence and core.
Disciplined action – Eliminates the need for excessive
control.
17. Questions
What are those 2-3 simple hedgehog concepts that you will
implement in your term? What will your LC be the best at and
why?
What really ignites the passion of the people? What will you do as
LCP to always keep that alive?
What are the 3 key leadership behaviours you would need to
develop to make this happen?
How do you think you can do this? What support would you
need?
Editor's Notes
Level 5 leadership can take an entity from good to excellent (ideal) so let’s understand what exactly it is and what you can do to get there.
Leaders in the 4 other levels can achieve good results but if you really want to take your LC to where it needs to be keep trying to develop these leadership behaviours. Of course there are other factors in taking the LC to its ideal state but this is one of them and one of the important ones as well.
Some things to keep in mind: Humility doesn’t mean no authority in your leadership behaviour. It means being team oriented, developing people to get things done, taking responsibility. Humility combined with professional will of being amazing at what you choose to be the best at makes a lvel 5 leader. Also for point 3, when you channel ambition into the company not the self, it automatically teaches you and develops you a LOT. All you have to do is be aware of your individual learning.
Asking for help is not weak. It is impossible for everyone to know everything. Identify where you need help – put it down and ensure you ask the right people for help. A level 5 leader asks the right person for help. It lets you capitalize on the expertise of an individual who maybe perfect at the particular area you are looking at. This helps you learn more as well.
Taking responsibility for mistakes and failures does not mean blaming yourself. It means ensuring along with the team there is a way to overcome it and taking the appropriate action.
What you need to be aware of being a level 5 leader? -
Breakthroughs happen when you get the hedgehog concept and become systematic and consistent with it.
Combining the culture of discipline with ethical and the right leadership can bring about brilliant performance! Disciplined does not mean “no fun”, it only means the right though, the right people and making things happen through building the right culture!
Best – not in the context of winning an award. Being relevant in the city and delivering their promise – very important to clarify this.
