I was introduced to the book Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make The Leap...and Other's Don't by Jim Collins in a leadership discussion with work colleagues. Collins characterizes the Level 5 leader—the highest level of leadership by his metrics—as "a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will."
As interesting a conclusion as this is, and as much I appreciate Collins’ observation, I don’t find it at all paradoxical. Professional will is complemented by humility. Humility makes us receptive to learning and mentoring. Success requires this receptiveness, and the product of professional will is success. Just as greatness is never a stand-alone achievement, neither is success. It is realized in concert with those from whom we have learned, and those we have taught well.
One of the more endearing qualities of true leaders is this humility, and I have noticed that those whose leadership skills I have admired most view the accolades of leadership as a reflective quality. Leaders are never self-validating; they allow the honor to be attributed to them by others.
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