How many people do you know who are committed to what they do - commitment to anything from career, family, relationship, health etc? It is a clear that those who are committed are those who end up succeeding in their chosen paths. Rarely if ever will you see someone’s lack of commitment lead them to greatness.
Commitment is a virtue that will make life easier for you and provide you with a greater sense of direction ultimately leading to higher levels of achievement. Furthermore, on a relationship level you allow others to know you and be better able to help you. Think about the relationship with a significant other or friend. If you are unsure, unable to fully commit chances are the relationships will go nowhere and you are just wasting your time and the other person’s time.
In the workplace, lack of commitment increases the risk stagnancy and any forward progress will be slow if any. In life you will see those who are 100% dialed in and excelling at what they do and then there are those who are not committed and end up spending their time fence sitting. The latter has not chosen any side, is neither in nor out and can be seen as being in a state of limbo – not going anywhere. Nobody wants to be in this position. So how do we get better at committing to what is important in our lives? For someone who is unsure of themselves and their choices, self introspect can provide clarity – by doing exercises like writing your personal inventory and going through lessons in values clarification we gain insight into ourselves that will lead to us to make choices and that we commit to.
Being in an idle position in life can be viewed as the easy way but on the same note, remaining there gets you nowhere and in the end you will be unhappy. Commitment can be difficult but the moment we choose to be all in, we gain a greater sense of understanding, we begin to inspire others, and life becomes more rewarding. The choice is simple, make a positive move and be all in or all out. Don’t allow indecision or apathy keep you idle so pick a side and just get off the fence. Be 100%in or 100% out.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sir Charles had it right
In 1993, Charles Barkley (former NBA star and Hall of Famer), sparked a nation wade debate with his "I am not a role model" commercial for Nike. The basic idea was that athletes / celebrities shouldn't be looked upon as role models for children and that the responsibility falls on the parents, which I definitely agree with although some of you may or may not.
At the time, when that commercial first came out I was 15 years old and had just lost my father to cancer 3 years prior to then. Without knowing it, and not fully realizing it until I'd completed my inventory, I was in desperate need of a role model but not someone like Charles Barkley or Michael Jordan, who I saw on TV for a few hours a week. No, I was in need of a role model that knew me personally and that took the time to help me in the areas that I needed help in, even if that meant just spending time with me. Over the years, that role was filled by several different people but none of them had any million dollar shoe contracts or showed off their shiny championship rings to me; they were just "normal" people that were making a HUGE impact on my life, perhaps without even realizing it themselves.
So what does that mean to me today and how can I learn from this lesson? What I'm learning each and every day is that there are opportunities around me all the time to make a positive impact on somebody, whether that's a fellow training coach, customer or stranger that I might come across. Also, my ongoing need to have a "role model" whose steps that I follow and whose advice I heed is now being filled by this very leadership group, so thank you to everyone for continuing to contribute to my growth and also allowing me to continue learning as well.
- Paul -
At the time, when that commercial first came out I was 15 years old and had just lost my father to cancer 3 years prior to then. Without knowing it, and not fully realizing it until I'd completed my inventory, I was in desperate need of a role model but not someone like Charles Barkley or Michael Jordan, who I saw on TV for a few hours a week. No, I was in need of a role model that knew me personally and that took the time to help me in the areas that I needed help in, even if that meant just spending time with me. Over the years, that role was filled by several different people but none of them had any million dollar shoe contracts or showed off their shiny championship rings to me; they were just "normal" people that were making a HUGE impact on my life, perhaps without even realizing it themselves.
So what does that mean to me today and how can I learn from this lesson? What I'm learning each and every day is that there are opportunities around me all the time to make a positive impact on somebody, whether that's a fellow training coach, customer or stranger that I might come across. Also, my ongoing need to have a "role model" whose steps that I follow and whose advice I heed is now being filled by this very leadership group, so thank you to everyone for continuing to contribute to my growth and also allowing me to continue learning as well.
- Paul -
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
"Following the Systems"
a.k.a. "Obeying the Law"
It's funny (not in a "ha ha" sort of way), but I often get chided for my sometimes rigid adherence to systems. Not that this bothers me - I grew up in a family where we were always able to find something to give each other a hard time about, so it more or less rolls off me. Plus, I know that I will sometimes overreact to some of these things and worse, demonstrate an inflexibility that essentially paints a target on my forehead for this sort of banter.
That being said, I think it's important we look at "systems" in a larger, societal context, and consider the importance, both for yourself and others, of following those systems - or, as the title of this blog implies, obeying the law.
The idea for this blog came to me when I was sitting in the line-up at the border after the STP. I was at the truck crossing, and as we all know, there's a single lane for cars; the lane next to it is for buses/Nexus only, and the far one for trucks. Well, here's the thing: despite being well marked, a large number of cars will drive ahead in the bus/Nexus line to skip the car line-up, and then bully their way into car line-up near the front. I had someone decide to do this in front of me, and we had a little showdown - in fact, the only reason I relented was because of the ripple effect it was having behind me, slowing down other people who had patiently waited in the same line-up as me. So after coming within inches of hitting the other car, I opened a gap.
How many of you have done this? Not at the truck crossing, maybe, but gone into a lane you know full well is a turn-lane only, just so that you could skip the line and cut back in at the front? Let me ask you this - what the hell do you think gives you the right, makes you so special, that you deserve treatment better than all of the rest of us? Now let me suggest another, much more likely possibility - you don't think at all. In an ultimate act of selfish and self-serving behaviour, you drive alongside that lane and cut in because YOU don't want to have to wait, and don't think it's fair to YOU.
I am not noble, I am not a selfless individual - these are not the reasons for my following what's been laid out. No, it's actually that I detest hypocrisy and hold integrity in the highest regard. You see, I hate it when people do it to me - so I will never do it to someone else. Laws exist for a purpose - they are what allow us to co-exist comfortably and securely in the world. When people start making their own rules, it throws the natural ebb and flow off - how do you know what rules you're supposed to be following, when everyone's making their own up? Okay, so maybe you let people in because someone let you in - but if that was how it was supposed to work, then that lane wouldn't have been designated for another purpose. And now, some will let people in, some won't, next thing you know there's an accident, the traffic behind is all held up, and I'm somewhere back there chewing off my steering wheel because again, my own forward momentum is held up because people aren't following the systems.
Well, the systems at a company are the same as the laws in the real world - the are there for a reason, and if everyone just operated within the parameters that are laid out, then we'd all be able to move ahead faster. So the next time you are going to do something you know isn't policy/legal/ethical, please, stop and think: what are the potential ripple effects of this choice I know to be wrong, and how can I justify it?
Yes, I know that there will always be jackasses who continue to operate outside the systems because of their inherent narcissism and self-absorption, and you may be one of the few who are actually obeying that particular law/following that particular system - but at least there's one less person contributing to that problem now, and one less person holding up the forward momentum.
~Guy
It's funny (not in a "ha ha" sort of way), but I often get chided for my sometimes rigid adherence to systems. Not that this bothers me - I grew up in a family where we were always able to find something to give each other a hard time about, so it more or less rolls off me. Plus, I know that I will sometimes overreact to some of these things and worse, demonstrate an inflexibility that essentially paints a target on my forehead for this sort of banter.
That being said, I think it's important we look at "systems" in a larger, societal context, and consider the importance, both for yourself and others, of following those systems - or, as the title of this blog implies, obeying the law.
The idea for this blog came to me when I was sitting in the line-up at the border after the STP. I was at the truck crossing, and as we all know, there's a single lane for cars; the lane next to it is for buses/Nexus only, and the far one for trucks. Well, here's the thing: despite being well marked, a large number of cars will drive ahead in the bus/Nexus line to skip the car line-up, and then bully their way into car line-up near the front. I had someone decide to do this in front of me, and we had a little showdown - in fact, the only reason I relented was because of the ripple effect it was having behind me, slowing down other people who had patiently waited in the same line-up as me. So after coming within inches of hitting the other car, I opened a gap.
How many of you have done this? Not at the truck crossing, maybe, but gone into a lane you know full well is a turn-lane only, just so that you could skip the line and cut back in at the front? Let me ask you this - what the hell do you think gives you the right, makes you so special, that you deserve treatment better than all of the rest of us? Now let me suggest another, much more likely possibility - you don't think at all. In an ultimate act of selfish and self-serving behaviour, you drive alongside that lane and cut in because YOU don't want to have to wait, and don't think it's fair to YOU.
I am not noble, I am not a selfless individual - these are not the reasons for my following what's been laid out. No, it's actually that I detest hypocrisy and hold integrity in the highest regard. You see, I hate it when people do it to me - so I will never do it to someone else. Laws exist for a purpose - they are what allow us to co-exist comfortably and securely in the world. When people start making their own rules, it throws the natural ebb and flow off - how do you know what rules you're supposed to be following, when everyone's making their own up? Okay, so maybe you let people in because someone let you in - but if that was how it was supposed to work, then that lane wouldn't have been designated for another purpose. And now, some will let people in, some won't, next thing you know there's an accident, the traffic behind is all held up, and I'm somewhere back there chewing off my steering wheel because again, my own forward momentum is held up because people aren't following the systems.
Well, the systems at a company are the same as the laws in the real world - the are there for a reason, and if everyone just operated within the parameters that are laid out, then we'd all be able to move ahead faster. So the next time you are going to do something you know isn't policy/legal/ethical, please, stop and think: what are the potential ripple effects of this choice I know to be wrong, and how can I justify it?
Yes, I know that there will always be jackasses who continue to operate outside the systems because of their inherent narcissism and self-absorption, and you may be one of the few who are actually obeying that particular law/following that particular system - but at least there's one less person contributing to that problem now, and one less person holding up the forward momentum.
~Guy
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Miscommunication
Failure to communicate something clearly or correctly may lead to a communication that is likely to be misinterpreted.
Don’t let this be a block in any relationship – family, friend, customer, teammate etc. We must practice ‘paying attention’ during every conversation. There are many mistakes to be made and if one fails to notice or let things slide, there is opportunity for wires to get crossed.
Be honest, upfront and confirm your thoughts if unsure. As we all know, understanding the realities evolved increases success in any communication.
Don’t let this be a block in any relationship – family, friend, customer, teammate etc. We must practice ‘paying attention’ during every conversation. There are many mistakes to be made and if one fails to notice or let things slide, there is opportunity for wires to get crossed.
Be honest, upfront and confirm your thoughts if unsure. As we all know, understanding the realities evolved increases success in any communication.
Last week, we were asked to identify something we would like help with during a staff meeting. I asked to be communicated to (In direct relation to the realization that my last quarter of over-training may have impaired my communication skills and would have most likely promoted some feelings to be hurt) I simply asked that if the team thinks I am being negative/short – generally unhealthy, to confirm that feeling instead of assuming. I expressed that I may have come across short or not caring and that those were emotions that I would never want to portray.
I’m sure we all have an example of an instance where one has not understood or interpret something incorrectly. If you are willing, please share personal tool/idea for successful communication.
Thanks. R
Monday, July 14, 2008
preparation/organization/team
This weekend I was lucky enough to be doing the STP with an amazing group of people. Just wanted to share another example of when you take the time to prepare, organize and do it as a team all the wonderful things that can happen.
Preparation
People planned to do this race 1 year ago. They didn’t know how hard it would be. They were scared but trusted us. We took the time to put programs in place to make sure they were well prepared. We made training days at IF/eating suggestions/riding times… they followed it because we were on them every week by riding with them following up with them… They had the chance to prepare as a group. Get to know each other and prepare together for this 204 miles day. The bond that happen during these training days set them up for success.
Organizations
We had people organizing hotels/a-z for the event/car rides to get there and back/sunglasses/bags... This way people knew what to expect and all questions are answered.
Team...
is the biggest thing I saw this weekend but again, only because it was so well prepared and organized we were able to have the team stick together. The team was not only racers but customers that couldn’t race and wanted to come and be a part of it so said yes to being support for this amazing group of riders. (another way of getting customers involved) These IF customers trained each week together and there were no way any of them would leave one behind. If you look at some of the following response from the weekend you will see for yourself how strong of a group people become and what happens when you have preparation/organization and a team in place.
Thanks guys for a wonderful time!
I really appreciate it especially since this was my best friends 40th birthday present - it was truly a memorable adventure that I will remember for the rest of my life. The best part is that Bruce and I will be telling stories about it for many years. Isabelle, thanks for driving to Seattle by yourself and waiting at the border for 90 minutes so that you could support us - I really appreciate it! Jason, thanks for letting me win the contest up the hill - that really boosted my confidence. Curtis, thanks to you and your team for organizing a great event. Bruce and I were talking about all the work and planning that was done behind the scenes to make it happen and we appreciate it. Although I still don't like biking as much as I like running, I now realize that the most important thing is the people who I am doing the event with - and the ride was one of the best times ever!
Thanks again.
Neil Y.
----------
Hey guys,
Thanks again Curtis- it was a great experience and I appreciate you letting me tag on to IF via Neil. You are right- I did enjoy it, awesome birthday present from Neil ( you sick bastard-just wait till your 40th)
Again IF team , I know you put a ton of time & prep work into putting the function together and it went off without a hitch. Your club seems really involved and I am sure your clients love these types of events- well done and congrats.
As fun as that was, I am currently having a staring contest with an ice cold Czechvar beer accompanied by a stein glass straight from the freezer and about to kick back on the deck. It was between that and an Accelerade & Cliff Bar. - gotta go
Bruce D
---------
Some of my highlights:
Paul H organizing us into a pace line - I think we looked pretty impressive
Steve and Vic organizing "group bonding sessions" - I just didn't understand the timing of the one so close to the finish line :)
Paul M's unfailing sense of humour before, during?, and after his crash. And his well stocked support vehicle.
My Paul - discovering that popcorn, as odd as it seemed, really did help for the rest of the ride and, the fact that you can teach "old" dogs new tricks - eg road riding, great finish
Watching Neil and Bruce (and the fastest tire repair at the 203 mile mark ever I'm sure) look so fresh, even after they had already done a HUGE ride the day before.
Watching Ryan climb hills so strong after what seemed like hundreds of miles (wait, I think it was), and obeying ALL the riding rules of the road biking back to the hotel
Strong, even, consistent pulls with Curtis in front - and having it confirmed that boys never tire of talking about bodily functions no matter how old they are!!!
Watching Jason finish so well, fall and not mess up his look, and the fact that he probably quadrupled the mileage on his bike all in one go.
Watching Kim and Isabelle come in - still smiling as usual
That great tailwind that made that long uphill feel like a downhill
Watermelon, sandwiches, that first cold beer!!!
These are just some of the highlights from Saturday - there are so many from the training rides (Vic's "air guitar", Steve always pulling so long - even with all the wind that always seemed to be coming at us, Ryan's bike breaking down and Isabelle, Vic and Steve taking turns pushing most of the way home etc, etc etc.), too
I had a great time - thanks everyone
Barb S.
--------
Thanks to everyone for making that such an unreal day.
My highlights...
The worlds best creamsicle at lunch...need I say more!?
The banana bread...at the top of the hill...
Even the bug I swallowed coming down the hill was great
Other highlights...non food related,
Chasing Steve Christian down while he was high on Metallica riding the fastest I have ever seen him go.
Riding beside lake washington in the morning...thinking...this is easy...what was all that training about...and then hitting that first hill and getting a quick shot of reality!
Finally, Finishing as a group...
Thanks to everyone for making STP such a great day.
Ryan F.
--------
Kim doing it in one day was awesome....
And this email this morning.....
Hey Paul,
I just wanted to say thanks! You obviously didn't have the best of days on the bike. I was really disappointed for you. But, things happen that are unavoidable and I thought you handled the rest of the day awesome. It was great the way you just transitioned into support and took control of that you made the rest of our day so much easier. So I just wanted to say thanks for that! email from Ryan.
Paul M.
--------
Hey Guys,
Well my first "Innovative Event" was amazing. I was nervous leading up to the event not really knowing what to expect as far as distance/fuel/heat etc. Once we got going the day turned out to be amazing. I thought that the day was well organized and as a team we held together really well and worked together really well.
I just wanted to say thanks for the chance and oportunity to come along with Innovative Fitness to be part of such a fantastic group, and to have such an amazing day.
Ryan F
---------
HIGHLIGHTS!
Seeing Barb pulling 9 strong and 1 old man!
Ryan asking why we did all the training as we rode by Lake Washington!
The support vehicles full of fruit and cold refreshments.
Starting as a team and finishing as a team.
Paul H trying to take pictures as he rode (I want to see the one of his ear)!
Paul M’s determination to stick with his broken bike as long as he could.
Everyone pulling me along for 200 miles without a complaint.
FINISHING.
The second cold beer at the finish line, as I didn’t taste the first one.
Seeing Kim and Isabelle finish.
Congratulations and thank you all.
Paul S.
-----------
My top 3:
1- seeing how strong everyone looked and how much fun we had together for the entire day
2-uphills feeling like downhills
3 -The best ham and cheese wrap ever at st helen's
Paul H.
-------
I don't know about you but just by reading these emails it makes me pretty pumped up about getting the next group of people ready to go for another amazing IF destination!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Get Rich Schemes
At one time or another most of us will have entertained the thought of being financially rich; having a lot of money – millions perhaps. Less of us will take that same thought and transfer it into the next step by saying I will do it. An even lesser number of people will then think how they will do it and take action. I have been there and have considered the options of how to make a lot of money. So how does one make this amount of money? Here are some options (all which I have tried or have considered) along with the findings:
1)Steal it: Been there done that. It can be easy and if it sits well on your conscience by all means go for it. BUT consider this before you exercise this option to make your money – the world works in interesting ways and what goes around surely comes around. When I was young I stole a ring that belonged to someone. I was never proud of it but nevertheless I did it to make quick money. About 2 years later a ring given to me by my grandfather was stolen from me. I hated the feeling of losing this sentimental possession of mine but reality was that it was payback time. Lastly, if you want to steal know that at one point you will get caught. Been there and getting caught sucks because it sets you back even further with respect to time, energy and money. Theft is not the best way to make money in life. It is unreliable, dishonest and in the end causes much stress.
2)Marry it: About 5 years ago I thought how great it would be to simply marry someone with a lot of money and then not have to worry. I spent time trying to meet women with money when it hit me that this is one of the worst ideas I could come up with. It was a waste of time and a waiting game. I didn’t feel in control nor would I want to count on someone to give me money. If it so happens that you fall in love with a millionaire so be it and great work. There is meaning behind the Beatles song goes, ‘Money can’t Buy me Love’. Money is something you should never marry someone for because in the end the chances of being unhappy are too high. I have seen it and having all the money at your fingertips means nothing if you are unhappy.
3)Inherit it: My family are not oil tycoons or anyone close to being worth millions so this option is completely out of the question. Only a small percentage of people in this world are born into families worth a fortune. You either are born that way or you are not – Simple. If you are not, it is not something you can make happen so this option is also out of the questions for myself and most people who want to make money.
4)Win it: Here is another unlikely way of making your fortune. The chances of winning the Lotto Super 7 by matching all 7 numbers is 1 in 62 million. When you gamble you can hope to win, but the odds always favor the house. In essence you are paying to play the games. In most circumstances, and for most people, the more you play, the more you will lose. Chances that we will win it are so low and this way really is not one any of us should count on
5)Earn it: Because the above 4 ways are all unlikely or will lead to more pain than good we now have the last option – the choice to earn our fortune. It can be done and has been done. But in most cases it does not come easy and we have to work for it. It is my opinion that there are 3 ways to earn a lot of money:
a)Become a professional. Doctors, lawyers, accountants all make a great earning. To be such a professional it all takes time by spending years in school and investing money into the education. In the end it can be a guaranteed way to make money but is not easy. It is your choice.
b)Become a top level executive. Climb the corporate ladder. There are plenty of people who have started small within a company with minimal schooling and money to put their minds into their work and earn their way to the top of the company. These individuals are all highly paid and financial success stories.
c)Start your own business. If you do not want to do all the schooling to be a professional or work for a corporation then your best bet it to start your own business. This like the other 2 ways to earn your fortune is not easy. It takes hard work, dedication and patience. With that being said, many business fail yet your chances to financial success are greater then trying to win it.
As you can see working hard to earn your money is the one way that will pay off without having to live a dishonest life or gamble for your future income. Hard work is not easy, but if you choose an avenue you enjoy then hard work is natural and the process will not be as difficult. In most cases, hard work also does not pay immediately. This is a reality we must face and as the saying goes ‘sow before you reap’. So if you want to make money, get ready to work for it. There is no easy road because no one is going to hand you a silver spoon.
1)Steal it: Been there done that. It can be easy and if it sits well on your conscience by all means go for it. BUT consider this before you exercise this option to make your money – the world works in interesting ways and what goes around surely comes around. When I was young I stole a ring that belonged to someone. I was never proud of it but nevertheless I did it to make quick money. About 2 years later a ring given to me by my grandfather was stolen from me. I hated the feeling of losing this sentimental possession of mine but reality was that it was payback time. Lastly, if you want to steal know that at one point you will get caught. Been there and getting caught sucks because it sets you back even further with respect to time, energy and money. Theft is not the best way to make money in life. It is unreliable, dishonest and in the end causes much stress.
2)Marry it: About 5 years ago I thought how great it would be to simply marry someone with a lot of money and then not have to worry. I spent time trying to meet women with money when it hit me that this is one of the worst ideas I could come up with. It was a waste of time and a waiting game. I didn’t feel in control nor would I want to count on someone to give me money. If it so happens that you fall in love with a millionaire so be it and great work. There is meaning behind the Beatles song goes, ‘Money can’t Buy me Love’. Money is something you should never marry someone for because in the end the chances of being unhappy are too high. I have seen it and having all the money at your fingertips means nothing if you are unhappy.
3)Inherit it: My family are not oil tycoons or anyone close to being worth millions so this option is completely out of the question. Only a small percentage of people in this world are born into families worth a fortune. You either are born that way or you are not – Simple. If you are not, it is not something you can make happen so this option is also out of the questions for myself and most people who want to make money.
4)Win it: Here is another unlikely way of making your fortune. The chances of winning the Lotto Super 7 by matching all 7 numbers is 1 in 62 million. When you gamble you can hope to win, but the odds always favor the house. In essence you are paying to play the games. In most circumstances, and for most people, the more you play, the more you will lose. Chances that we will win it are so low and this way really is not one any of us should count on
5)Earn it: Because the above 4 ways are all unlikely or will lead to more pain than good we now have the last option – the choice to earn our fortune. It can be done and has been done. But in most cases it does not come easy and we have to work for it. It is my opinion that there are 3 ways to earn a lot of money:
a)Become a professional. Doctors, lawyers, accountants all make a great earning. To be such a professional it all takes time by spending years in school and investing money into the education. In the end it can be a guaranteed way to make money but is not easy. It is your choice.
b)Become a top level executive. Climb the corporate ladder. There are plenty of people who have started small within a company with minimal schooling and money to put their minds into their work and earn their way to the top of the company. These individuals are all highly paid and financial success stories.
c)Start your own business. If you do not want to do all the schooling to be a professional or work for a corporation then your best bet it to start your own business. This like the other 2 ways to earn your fortune is not easy. It takes hard work, dedication and patience. With that being said, many business fail yet your chances to financial success are greater then trying to win it.
As you can see working hard to earn your money is the one way that will pay off without having to live a dishonest life or gamble for your future income. Hard work is not easy, but if you choose an avenue you enjoy then hard work is natural and the process will not be as difficult. In most cases, hard work also does not pay immediately. This is a reality we must face and as the saying goes ‘sow before you reap’. So if you want to make money, get ready to work for it. There is no easy road because no one is going to hand you a silver spoon.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Level 5 Revisited
Being that it's still one of the most useful and relevant books that I've read while working at IF, I thought I'd re-visit "Good to Great" and the concept of Level 5 Leadership. As many of us have read the book and have heard the term "Level 5 Leader" we may have a general idea of what the term means but I thought I'd provide another example, taken from Jim Collins' website (www.jimcollins.com), which also has some very useful tools to use relative to some of the other concepts he introduces in his book.
Two sides of the Level 5 leader
On the one hand… Creates—and is a clear catalyst in creating—superb results. Yet on the other hand… Demonstrates a compelling modesty, shunning public adulation and never boastful.
On the one hand… Demonstrates an unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done to produce the best long-term results, no matter how difficult. Yet on the other hand… Acts with quiet, calm determination and relies principally on inspired standards—not an inspiring personality—to motivate.
On the one hand… Sets the standard of building an enduring great organization and will settle for nothing less. Yet on the other hand… Channels ambition into the organization and its work, not the self, setting up successors for even greater success in the next generation.
On the one hand… Looks in the mirror, not out the window, to apportion responsibility for poor results, never blaming other people, external factors, or bad luck. Yet on the other hand… Looks out the window, not in the mirror, to apportion credit for the success of the company—to other people, external factors, and good luck.
I used to think of these leaders as rare birds, almost freaks of nature. But then a funny thing happened after a seminar where I shared the Level 5 finding and bemoaned the lack of Level 5 leaders. After the session, a number of people stopped by to give examples of Level 5 leaders they’d observed or worked with. Then again, at another seminar, the same thing happened. Then again, at a third seminar—and a pattern began to emerge.
It turns out that many people have experienced Level 5 leadership somewhere in their development—a Level 5 sports coach, a Level 5 platoon commander, a Level 5 boss, a Level 5 entrepreneur, a Level 5 CEO. There is a common refrain: “I couldn’t understand or put my finger on what made him so effective, but now I understand: he was a Level 5.” People began to clip articles and send e-mails with examples of people they think of as Level 5 leaders, past or present: Orin Smith of Starbucks Coffee, Joe Torre of the New York Yankees, Kristine McDivitt of Patagonia, John Whitehead of Goldman Sachs, Frances Hesselbein of The Drucker Foundation, Jack Brennan of Vanguard, John Morgridge of Cisco Systems, former Secretary of State George Shultz, and so on. My list of Level 5 leaders began to grow exponentially.
Then it dawned on me: Our problem is not a shortage of Level 5 leaders. They exist all around us. Like the drawing of two faces that transforms itself into a vase, depending on how you look at the picture, Level 5 leadership jumps out at us as soon as we change how we look at the world and alter our assumptions about how it best works.
No, our problem lies in the fact that our culture has fallen in love with the idea of the celebrity CEO. Charismatic egotists who swoop in to save companies grace the covers of major magazines because they are much more interesting to read and write about than people like Darwin Smith and David Maxwell. This fuels the mistaken belief held by many directors that a high-profile, larger-than-life leader is required to make a company great. We keep putting people into positions of power who lack the inclination to become Level 5 leaders, and that is one key reason why so few companies ever make a sustained and verifiable shift from good to great.
The fact that our culture has evolved away from Level 5 leadership, however, does not mean that the culture is right or that we should accept it. After all, our culture in the 1990s also embraced the idea of irrational exuberance and infused people with the idea that they could—indeed should—get rich quick by creating companies that were Built to Flip rather than Built to Last. The culture was neither right nor healthy, and we would have done better to reject that culture and hold to fundamental tenets of creation and value that we knew in our guts to be eternally true. The same holds for our current misguided confusion of celebrity and leadership; it is neither right nor healthy. If we allow the celebrity rock-star model of leadership to triumph, we will see the decline of corporations and institutions of all types. The twentieth century was a century of greatness, but we face the very real prospect that the next century will see very few enduring great institutions. If good is the enemy of great—and I believe it is—the current trends in leadership give the decided edge to the enemy.
Yet I remain optimistic. For one thing, I sense an increasing societal unease with the emergence of celebrity leaders who care more about themselves than they do about the institutions for which they are responsible. Smart people instinctively understand the dangers of entrusting our future to self-serving leaders who use our institutions—whether in the corporate or social sectors—to advance their own interests. For another, we now have hard empirical evidence that shows such leaders to be negatively correlated with sustained great results, and this evidence should bolster courageous boards of directors. Finally, and perhaps most important, I am absolutely convinced that the seed of Level 5 leadership is widely dispersed throughout society. It can be identified. It can be cultivated. It can be developed. Given encouragement and the right tools, it can flourish. And if it does, so will our institutions.
Copyright ©2001 Jim Collins. All rights reserved.
- Paul -
Two sides of the Level 5 leader
On the one hand… Creates—and is a clear catalyst in creating—superb results. Yet on the other hand… Demonstrates a compelling modesty, shunning public adulation and never boastful.
On the one hand… Demonstrates an unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done to produce the best long-term results, no matter how difficult. Yet on the other hand… Acts with quiet, calm determination and relies principally on inspired standards—not an inspiring personality—to motivate.
On the one hand… Sets the standard of building an enduring great organization and will settle for nothing less. Yet on the other hand… Channels ambition into the organization and its work, not the self, setting up successors for even greater success in the next generation.
On the one hand… Looks in the mirror, not out the window, to apportion responsibility for poor results, never blaming other people, external factors, or bad luck. Yet on the other hand… Looks out the window, not in the mirror, to apportion credit for the success of the company—to other people, external factors, and good luck.
I used to think of these leaders as rare birds, almost freaks of nature. But then a funny thing happened after a seminar where I shared the Level 5 finding and bemoaned the lack of Level 5 leaders. After the session, a number of people stopped by to give examples of Level 5 leaders they’d observed or worked with. Then again, at another seminar, the same thing happened. Then again, at a third seminar—and a pattern began to emerge.
It turns out that many people have experienced Level 5 leadership somewhere in their development—a Level 5 sports coach, a Level 5 platoon commander, a Level 5 boss, a Level 5 entrepreneur, a Level 5 CEO. There is a common refrain: “I couldn’t understand or put my finger on what made him so effective, but now I understand: he was a Level 5.” People began to clip articles and send e-mails with examples of people they think of as Level 5 leaders, past or present: Orin Smith of Starbucks Coffee, Joe Torre of the New York Yankees, Kristine McDivitt of Patagonia, John Whitehead of Goldman Sachs, Frances Hesselbein of The Drucker Foundation, Jack Brennan of Vanguard, John Morgridge of Cisco Systems, former Secretary of State George Shultz, and so on. My list of Level 5 leaders began to grow exponentially.
Then it dawned on me: Our problem is not a shortage of Level 5 leaders. They exist all around us. Like the drawing of two faces that transforms itself into a vase, depending on how you look at the picture, Level 5 leadership jumps out at us as soon as we change how we look at the world and alter our assumptions about how it best works.
No, our problem lies in the fact that our culture has fallen in love with the idea of the celebrity CEO. Charismatic egotists who swoop in to save companies grace the covers of major magazines because they are much more interesting to read and write about than people like Darwin Smith and David Maxwell. This fuels the mistaken belief held by many directors that a high-profile, larger-than-life leader is required to make a company great. We keep putting people into positions of power who lack the inclination to become Level 5 leaders, and that is one key reason why so few companies ever make a sustained and verifiable shift from good to great.
The fact that our culture has evolved away from Level 5 leadership, however, does not mean that the culture is right or that we should accept it. After all, our culture in the 1990s also embraced the idea of irrational exuberance and infused people with the idea that they could—indeed should—get rich quick by creating companies that were Built to Flip rather than Built to Last. The culture was neither right nor healthy, and we would have done better to reject that culture and hold to fundamental tenets of creation and value that we knew in our guts to be eternally true. The same holds for our current misguided confusion of celebrity and leadership; it is neither right nor healthy. If we allow the celebrity rock-star model of leadership to triumph, we will see the decline of corporations and institutions of all types. The twentieth century was a century of greatness, but we face the very real prospect that the next century will see very few enduring great institutions. If good is the enemy of great—and I believe it is—the current trends in leadership give the decided edge to the enemy.
Yet I remain optimistic. For one thing, I sense an increasing societal unease with the emergence of celebrity leaders who care more about themselves than they do about the institutions for which they are responsible. Smart people instinctively understand the dangers of entrusting our future to self-serving leaders who use our institutions—whether in the corporate or social sectors—to advance their own interests. For another, we now have hard empirical evidence that shows such leaders to be negatively correlated with sustained great results, and this evidence should bolster courageous boards of directors. Finally, and perhaps most important, I am absolutely convinced that the seed of Level 5 leadership is widely dispersed throughout society. It can be identified. It can be cultivated. It can be developed. Given encouragement and the right tools, it can flourish. And if it does, so will our institutions.
Copyright ©2001 Jim Collins. All rights reserved.
- Paul -
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