Cory Aquino and Level 5 Leadership

Level 5 Leadership was coined by author Jim Collins in his well known book Good to Great. This book was based on an exhaustive empirical study of companies that transformed themselves positively while other benchmark companies in the same conditions did not do so well.

What Collins’ team found out was that great companies were not run by the typical macho, buccaneer-type of CEOs. Instead, these Level 5 leaders displayed great modesty, humility and single-mindedness.

Level 5 leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves. They do have ambitions, but their ego and ambitions are first and foremost for the institution, not themselves. Level 4 leaders are known as Effective Leaders, who also have a vision and influence people to follow that vision. What separates the Effective Leader from the Level 5 Leader is genuine selflessness. Level 5 Leaders do not show off or take credit for themselves. Effective Leaders might.

Cory Aquino, only after her death, can be identified as a Level 5 Leader. Since a Level 5 leader does not talk about his or her own achievements, only those around the leader can apportion credit to her. In the days following her death, many stories about her passions and her humility have surfaced. Thousands lined up in the streets at her funeral in an atmosphere of gratitude.

How does Cory fit the definition of Level 5 Leadership? If we consider that the country is a company or institution, then here are the qualities of its Level 5 leader:

• A clear catalyst in the transition from good to great
• Demonstrates an unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done, no matter how difficult
• Sets the standard for building a great country, and will settle for nothing less
• Looks to oneself to apportion responsibility for poor results
• Demonstrates compelling modesty, never boastful
• Acts on quiet, calm determination, not on charisma, to motivate
• Channels ambition to the country, not to herself
• Sets up successors for even greater success in the next generation
• Apportions credit to others, never to herself

A funny thing happens to those who follow Level 5 leaders. They tend to emulate that leadership style, and make it trickle down the organization.

A Level 4 leader is not necessarily a bad leader. However, one must beware of the anti-thesis of the Level 5 Leader in a Level 4 Leader:

• A proponent of the status quo
• Does whatever must be done to improve personal image
• Does not set clear standards
• Blames others or bad luck for poor results
• Demonstrates a strong ego, extolling own virtues in any available public opportunity
• Acts with charisma, or threats, to manipulate
• Channels ambition to oneself, justifies personal rewards
• Communicates that the institution will not survive without him/her
• Apportions credit only on oneself, including successes created by others or due to luck.

Is the show of gratitude in the past 10 days by the Filipino people an indication that they appreciate and value Level 5 leaders?