The Explainer: What It Takes To Be A Great Leader | HBR

Reference: Harvard Business Review. (2019, June 25). The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader [Video]. YouTube.

Earn Credentials for Upskilling Yourself with Videos from YouTube

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

or

Forgot Password?

At Accredicity, you can gamify your Lifelong Learning, with Cred, in order to earn Stackable Credentials and Undergraduate Certificates from Bite-Size Education.

We Make Your Education Count


Get the Credit You Deserve and Become the Most Attractive Job Candidate by Earning and Posting A+ Badges to Your Linkedin Profile.

Sign Up to Get Started at Accredicity

Unlock the secrets of level-five leadership and discover what takes a company from good to great.

What It Takes to Be a Great Leader: Jim Collins and his research team examined over a thousand companies to identify factors that contributed to superior market performance. They identified level-five leadership, a rare combination of fierce determination and personal humility, as the key to success. Level-five leaders are ambitious but rarely talk about themselves; instead, they channel their ambition into something bigger than personal achievement. When faced with setbacks, they blame themselves, and when their companies succeed, they give credit to others. Companies should seek out these humble yet fierce leaders to help them go from good to great.

Learning Outline

1. Leadership ability ranges from highly capable individuals at level one to contributing team members, competent managers, effective leaders, and finally, the fifth and final level, effective executives.
2. Level-five leaders have a rare combination of fierce resolve and personal humility.
3. When faced with setbacks, they look in the mirror, blaming themselves for underperformance, never external factors or bad luck.
4. When their companies succeed, level-five leaders give credit to others.
5. Level-five leaders channel their ambition into something bigger than personal achievement.
6. Level-five leaders are reserved and even shy, but hold the company together with resolute determination.
7. The drive that propels people into level-four leadership stands at odds with the humility required to rise to level five.
8. Companies should seek out the fierce but humble leaders they may have overlooked.

Instructional Content

Great leadership is a combination of many qualities, but what separates level-five leaders from the rest is the rare combination of fierce resolve and personal humility. Level-five leaders are ambitious, yet they don’t talk about themselves; instead, they channel their ambition into something bigger than personal achievement. They take personal responsibility for their company’s performance and are willing to look in the mirror when faced with setbacks, never external factors or bad luck.

The research of Jim Collins and his team has identified that what makes some companies go from good to great is level-five leadership. This type of leadership requires the capabilities of all the lower levels, such as the level-four ability to both improve company performance and paint a clear and compelling vision. A great example of a level-five leader is US President Abraham Lincoln, who had the resolute determination to unify the country during the Civil War, resulting in the reunited nation becoming a world power.

Too often companies reward extroverted style over substance, but to help your company go from good to great, seek out the fierce but humble leaders you may have overlooked. Those are the leaders that have the rare combination of qualities that will bring real success to your company.

The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader video provides a comprehensive look at level-five leadership and its impact on companies. It is an informative resource for anyone looking to gain insights into what makes some companies go from good to great. Watching this video and understanding the qualities of a level-five leader can be the key to taking your company to the next level.

Leadership

Unlock Great Leadership Potential

Leadership is a complex skill that requires a combination of many traits to be effective. The video The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader outlines the key traits of a level-five leader, which include fierce resolve and personal humility. To develop these skills in learners, there are a few key components to consider.

First, it is important to foster a culture of trust and integrity in order to create a safe learning environment. This means that learners must feel comfortable expressing themselves and their ideas, as well as asking questions. This can be done through regular communication, such as group discussions, individualized feedback, and open dialogue.

Second, learners must be given opportunities to develop their leadership skills through hands-on experiences. This can be done through activities such as role-playing, case studies, and team-building exercises. These activities should focus on helping learners develop their decision-making, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Finally, learners must be given a clear vision of their future. This includes setting expectations, providing feedback, and encouraging learners to take initiative. This can be done by outlining the goals and objectives of the organization and helping learners create a plan to reach those goals.

By focusing on these three components, leaders can help learners develop the skills necessary to become level-five leaders. Through trust, integrity, and vision, learners can gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become successful level-five leaders.

Leadership

What Makes a Good Leader?

Upskilling yourself to become a successful leader requires a combination of attributes that may not come naturally to everyone. According to Jim Collins and his research team, the highest level of leadership ability is level-five, which requires a balance of ambition and humility. This rare combination is exemplified by historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, who had both the resolve to hold the country together during the Civil War and the modesty to give credit to others for the nation's successes. Similarly, level-five leaders in the study had a passion for their work, but they were never boastful about it. Instead, they used their ambition to create something bigger than themselves.

In order to upskill yourself to become a great leader, focus on developing both your ambition and your humility. Become ambitious about your goals and be willing to put in the hard work to achieve them. At the same time, strive to remain humble. When you are successful, don't be afraid to give credit to others for their contributions. When faced with setbacks, take responsibility for your actions and don't blame external factors or bad luck. With a combination of ambition and humility, you can become the leader of your dreams.

Integrity and Trust

What Makes a Trustworthy Leader?

Upskilling yourself to be more successful in personal growth and professional development is key for any leader. Level-five leadership, as highlighted in the video, is a rare combination of fierce resolve and personal humility. This kind of leader is not only ambitious, but also channels their ambition into something bigger than personal achievement. According to research, level-five leaders are responsible for their company's success, but they are humble and never take credit for it. To become a successful leader, you need to be able to combine your ambition with humility.

One way to do this is to focus on the team’s success rather than your own. A great example of this is US president Abraham Lincoln. Despite monumental losses on both sides, his resolute determination to unify the country resulted in the reunited nation becoming a world power. You can do this by praising your team’s efforts and successes, and taking responsibility for any failures.

It is also important to recognize that often, the drive that propels people into level-four leadership stands at odds with the humility needed to reach level five. By understanding this, you can focus on the right skills and qualities for becoming a successful leader.

Finally, upskilling yourself to become more successful in personal growth and professional development should include learning from the successes and failures of those who have gone before you. These examples can help you to understand the characteristics of level-five leadership, and how you can incorporate them into your own leadership style.

Vision

What Makes a Visionary Leader?

Upskilling yourself for professional and personal success starts with a strong vision. To be a great leader, one needs to have a level-five leadership capability. According to research conducted by Jim Collins, this is the highest level of leadership and involves a rare combination of both fierce resolve and personal humility. Level-five leaders have the ability to both improve company performance and paint a clear and compelling vision. When faced with setbacks, they take responsibility and never blame external factors or bad luck. On the other hand, when their company succeeds, they give credit to others.

To be an effective level-five leader, it is important to be ambitious but not talk about oneself. Instead, focus on something bigger than personal achievement. Abraham Lincoln was a great example of this, unifying the country during the Civil War despite monumental losses. He displayed a duality of being both modest and willful, quiet yet strong. This combination of traits is what makes a level-five leader so successful.

Upskilling yourself to be a successful leader also requires a deep understanding of the market and the industry. Research, read industry-related articles, and attend seminars and conferences to stay informed. Develop a network of colleagues and mentors who can offer guidance and advice. Have a plan and set measurable goals to keep yourself on track and motivated. Most importantly, maintain an open mind and be willing to learn and adjust to the changing environment. With a clear vision, the ambition and humility to succeed, and the dedication to stay informed, you can upskill yourself to be a successful leader.

For Learners

Watching the Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader video is beneficial to life-long learners because it provides valuable insight on the qualities of level-five leadership. Level-five leaders combine fierce resolve and personal humility to guide companies from good to great. This video explains the importance of this unique combination of characteristics and how it can be applied in the workplace.

Not learning the content of this video could negatively affect life-long learners. Without this knowledge, life-long learners may miss out on opportunities to develop into successful leaders, both personally and professionally.

The ‘what’s in it for me’ approach to learning the content of this video is beneficial for personal growth and professional development. Life-long learners will gain valuable insight on how to become a successful leader, which can help them advance in their career.

The ‘what’s in it for them’ approach to learning the content of this video will benefit colleagues and employees. When life-long learners become level-five leaders, they will be able to provide guidance and direction to employees, which can help their team reach their full potential.

The ‘what’s in it for us’ approach to learning the content of this video can benefit organizations. When life-long learners apply the level-five leadership qualities discussed in the video, they can help their companies become more efficient and productive.

Finally, the ‘what’s in it for the world’ approach to learning the content of this video can have global implications. Level-five leaders can use their skills to create positive change and leave a lasting impact on society.

In conclusion, watching the Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader video is essential for life-long learners who want to become successful leaders. By applying the four ‘what’s in it for’ approaches to learning the video’s content, life-long learners can grow personally and professionally, benefit their colleagues and employees, help their companies, and have a positive impact on the world.

For Employers

Being a great leader is essential to the success of any company. Watching this video, The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader, allows employers to learn the skills needed to become a level-five leader. Having a level-five leader means having a combination of fierce resolve and personal humility, which helps to create a strong team and a successful business.

Employers who watch this video and understand the content will be able to differentiate themselves from their competition. This video outlines the qualities of a level-five leader, which are a rare combination of traits. By understanding and implementing these skills, employers and their teams will be able to stand out from the competition and create a successful business.

Moreover, customers and clients of the business will perceive the company more positively if they know that the company understands the concepts in this video. A business that understands the qualities of a level-five leader will be seen as a strong and successful company. This will make customers and clients more likely to trust and invest in the business, which will lead to more successful products and services.

To conclude, watching this video and understanding the content will benefit employers and their teams in many ways. Employers will be able to differentiate themselves from their competition, while customers and clients will perceive the company more positively. Utilizing the skills outlined in this video will help employers and their teams to become successful level-five leaders, and create a business that is successful now and into the future.

Career Path

Completing a course in Leadership based on these competencies: Leadership, Integrity and Trust, and Vision will go a long way in helping your career path. Taking the time to level up your leadership skills can be the difference between staying stagnant and advancing to the next level. Watching the video, “The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader” and reading the transcript can provide an invaluable insight into the qualities of a truly successful leader. By understanding the combination of fierce resolve and personal humility exhibited by the level-five leaders in the study, you can become more self-aware and better equipped to deal with the challenges of reaching the top.

This is an ideal opportunity for life long learners to gain the knowledge and skills to become more employable, promotable, and purposeful. With the ability to close the Skills Gap toward Meaningful Work, you are sure to be in high demand in high growth industries. Making the effort to invest in your own education and gain these income-producing skills will make you a formidable asset to any company. With the right combination of ambition, motivation, and leadership training, you can easily exceed your own expectations and become the leader that you have always dreamt of being.

Meaning

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln

This quote by Abraham Lincoln is fitting for the video The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader. Level five leaders must have a rare combination of fierce ambition and personal humility. They must be willing to take responsibility for their companies' successes and failures, while also giving credit to others. This duality of character is a difficult balance to maintain, but it is one of the qualities that sets a great leader apart from the rest.

This quote from Abraham Lincoln speaks to the very essence of great leadership. It is not enough to simply remain strong in adversity. To truly be an effective leader, one must possess the strength of character to use power wisely and responsibly. This is necessary for creating a successful and unified team and for achieving the highest level of performance.

This quote is an important reminder that great leadership begins with an individual's character. It is this type of self-awareness, humility, and ambition that truly separates the good from the great. This quote offers an important lesson for both learners and employers. Understanding this concept is essential for achieving success in any organization.

Takeaway

The key takeaway from the video is that effective level-five leaders have a unique combination of fierce resolve and humility. Level-five leaders are ambitious but humble, and instead of seeking credit for success, they focus on something bigger than themselves. To bring success to a company, look for these rare but powerful traits in potential leaders.

The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader

Great leaders come in all shapes and sizes, but the best ones have something special that makes them stand out: a mix of ambition and humility. Just like Abraham Lincoln, the president who held the US together during the Civil War, great CEOs have the rare ability to be both determined and modest. They are fiercely driven to achieve their goals, but they never brag about their success. Instead, they give credit to others, even though it's usually them who deserve it. Without this special combination of ambition and humility, a company won't reach its full potential. So, if you want to make your company go from good to great, look for leaders who are both fierce and humble!

Video Quotes

"Leadership ability ranges from highly capable individuals at level one to contributing team members, competent managers, effective leaders, and finally, the fifth and final level, effective executives." - Jim Collins

"When faced with setbacks, they look in the mirror, blaming themselves for underperformance, never external factors or bad luck. When their companies succeed, however, the mirror turns into a window and they give credit to others." - Jim Collins

"The funny thing is this does not reflect reality. According to the research, the level-five leaders were responsible for their company's success, but they would never admit it." - Jim Collins

Related Quotes

"Leadership is not a rank; it's a choice." -Brigadier General Michael Lundy

"It takes courage to lead, it takes courage to make decisions, it takes courage to push yourself and your organization to the next level." -Colonel Allyson Solomon

"Leadership is not a skill, it's a journey; it's a journey of learning, it's a journey of growth." -Lieutenant General Robert L. Caslen, Jr.

Competencies

1. Leadership
2. Integrity and Trust
3. Vision

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze: Assess the characteristics of level-five leaders and recognize how their qualities of resolve and humility contribute to successful leadership.
2. Evaluate: Examine the difference between level-four and level-five leaders and compare the qualities of each type of leader.
3. Create: Construct a leadership model based on the concept of level-five leaders, incorporating their traits of ambition, humility, and focus on something greater than themselves.
4. Apply: Employ the level-five leadership model in different scenarios and demonstrate how it can be used to improve company performance.
5. Understand: Demonstrate comprehension of the research and data that supports the importance of level-five leadership for companies to go from good to great.
6. Remember: Recall the example of President Abraham Lincoln and how his resolute determination to unify the country resulted in the reunited nation becoming a world power.

Sample Answers

1. From the video and its transcript, I have learned that level-five leaders have a rare combination of both fierce resolve and personal humility. They are ambitious but they do not talk about themselves, but instead channel their ambition into something bigger.

2. I also learned that level-five leaders take accountability for their company's underperformance, but when their company succeeds, they give credit to others. Abraham Lincoln is given as an example of this combination of traits.

3. Lastly, I have learned that too many companies reward extroverted style over substance, which can be an obstacle in developing level-five leaders. This can prevent companies from going from good to great.

Jim Collins

Jim Collins is a renowned author and business consultant. He is best known for his highly acclaimed book Good to Great, which has sold over 4 million copies since it was published in 2001. He is a professor of management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a former faculty member of the Stanford University School of Education. He is a co-founder of the management consulting firm Inspire 360, and has served as a management consultant and advisor to multiple Fortune 500 companies. He is also a senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School, and a regular keynote speaker at business conferences and events. He has written several books on leadership and management, including Built to Last, From Good to Great, and How the Mighty Fall. His expertise in leadership and management make him an expert on What It Takes to Be a Great Leader. He is associated with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Harvard Business School. Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School.

Learning Design

The three competencies of Leadership, Integrity and Trust, and Vision are essential for learning how to lead and manage people. Leadership is the ability to inspire and lead others to success, Integrity and Trust is the foundation for any successful team or organization, and Vision is the ability to anticipate and plan for the future.

Assessment

Q: What is the rare combination of traits that make up level-five leadership?

A. Extroverted style and substance
Fierce resolve and ambition
Modest and willful
Humility and determination

Answer: D. Humility and determination

Questions

1. What are the five levels of leadership discussed in the video?
2. What characteristics are necessary to become a level-five leader?
3. How did Abraham Lincoln exhibit duality of being both modest and resolute?
4. What strategies should a company use to identify and promote level-five leaders?
5. In what ways can a company incentivize employees to become level-five leaders?
6. What is the difference between level-four and level-five leadership?
7. How can a company leverage the traits of level-five leaders to go from good to great?
8. How can a company build a culture of humility and ambition to encourage employees to reach level-five leadership?

Keywords

Level-Five Leadership,Effective Executives,Fierce Resolve,Personal Humility,Abraham Lincoln,Great CEO,Extroverted Style,Good to Great

Facts

1. Level-five leadership is the highest level of leadership ability, requiring both personal humility and a fierce resolve.
2. Level-five leaders rarely take credit for company success, instead crediting others.
3. Abraham Lincoln is an example of a humble yet resolute leader who unified the US during the Civil War.
4. Level-four leaders often possess extroverted style over substance.
5. Companies should seek out the humble yet fierce leaders in order to go from good to great.

Trends

1. Create a checklist for potential level-five leaders that emphasizes the need for a strong combination of both humility and determination.
2. Develop a training program for current level-four leaders that encourages them to shift their focus from personal gain to larger collective success.
3. Establish a mentorship program to pair potential level-five leaders with successful level-five executives to help them learn the skills and traits needed to succeed.
4. Develop a series of case studies featuring examples of level-five leaders who have achieved success and the strategies they used to do so.
5. Create a rewards system that incentivizes level-five leaders and celebrates their accomplishments, rather than rewarding extroverted style over substance.

Source

This learning instructional guidance was formulated using the GPT-3 language model created by OpenAI.

Share


Leaders who strive for greatness have a rare combination of determination & humility. Level-five leaders are ambitious & focused on something bigger than personal achievement. Think of President Lincoln- resolute & determined, yet reserved & humble. #Leadership #Growth #Humility #Ambition @Accredicity

Earn Credentials for Upskilling Yourself with Videos from YouTube

At Accredicity, you can gamify your Lifelong Learning, with Cred, in order to earn Stackable Credentials and Undergraduate Certificates from Bite-Size Education.

A+-Done

Processing...

This may take a few moments. Please wait.

We use cookies to ensure you get the best user experience.
By continuing to use our site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.