Pitch Perfect
This past week, the Jesuit Crusaders girls soccer team appeared on the pitch for their first match of the 2023 campaign. They are the returning champions with a perfect 19 win season record from 2022. They are currently ranked #7 in the nation, and they are the Oregon state coaching poll favorites to repeat in 2023.
My youngest daughter, Abby, is the senior captain. She and her teammates are motivated to have another great season.
From the outside, it may appear like another Jesuit team that is poised to win a championship. But the reality, every year, there are new challenges. There are graduating seniors and key positions that they’ll need to replace. They have injuries to overcome. And every game, the competition brings their best to beat Jesuit. The new team will have to develop alignment and cohesion to assure they will be successful on the field.
However, what has been consistent, is their coaching staff, including head coach Steve Fennah, who has won 10 state high school championships.
Level 5 Leaders
In Jim Collins’ research to write the classic Good to Great, Jim was very frustrated. He did not want this book to be another leadership book. But, his research team at the University of Colorado, continuously brought forth the concept that the 11 companies who were selected, had a consistent type of leader. Jim finally agreed, the research was clear. They called them Level 5 Leadership.
Here is the Level 5 Hierarchy:
Level 1, Highly Capable IndividualLevel 2, Contributing Team Member
Level 3, Competent Manager
Level 4, Effective Leader
Level 5, Level 5 Executive
The key difference between Level 4 and Level 5, according to HBR, is not expected. Level 4 Leaders, as defined by committed to a vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision, stimulates the group to high performance standards. While Level 5 Executives, builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical combination of personal humility plus professional will.
The surprising truth, Level 5 executives, are naturally introverted, and more focused on the success of the team; rather than their own prestige. They have also been called Servant Based Leaders. Yet, this term can be confusing because they are incredibly strong in their will for their company or team to succeed; despite what the outside world says about them.
In my fourth year, as a parent of a player with the Jesuit soccer team, Head Coach Steve Fennah is one of these leaders. He is humble. He is consistent. Likewise, he prefers not to be in the headlines. But, he has a fierce resolve for the team to be successful. And he also the most successful women’s high school coach in Oregon’s history. Level 5 Leader, indeed.
Strategic Implications
Most importantly, every organization needs to have a leader, a CEO. Working with private equity firms, entrepreneurs, family businesses, not-for-profit organizations, universities, the leader ALWAYS matters.
In every strategic plan, we apply our seven principles, in terms, how does it apply with our People, Process, and Systems. People is first. The leader is first.
You can get away with bad processes. You can get with bad systems. Rarely, can you get away with bad leaders.
The challenge for those making decisions as to WHOM should lead, It’s not always the person who interviews the best. It’s not always the person with the most awards or newspaper clippings. Good to Great teaches us, it’s the Level 5 Leaders, who have performed the best in the long run.
Investigate their past success. Talk with people who worked with these leaders. You will find the greatest leaders, have a loyal, consistent following of other leaders and managers who will give them the upmost respect. They would leave their job and go through a brick wall for them.
Of note, the few leaders who reach Level 5, may find it difficult to stay there. Therefore, make sure these characteristics are still true today, as they were in the past.
Using ChatGPT for Strategy
Curious how to use ChatGPT for leadership. Check out this article in Forbes, 5 ChatGPT Prompts to be a More Effective CEO.
If you are an executive leader who wants to learn more about ChatGPT, we are conducting a 15-minute research interview. Please email me at carljcox@40strategy.com or Tonya at admin@40strategy.com to schedule a time. |
