“The good-to-great leaders never wanted to become larger-than-life heroes. They never aspired to be put on a pedestal or become unreachable icons. They were seemingly ordinary people quietly producing extraordinary results.”
Collins delves into concepts or strategies that transform good companies into great companies and how to execute them. Thus, he underlines specific aspects of corporate governance and leadership that play a key role in the transformation. What he terms as Level 5 leadership Collins advocates for leaders who are driven yet humble for the good of the company. The quotation expresses the common misconception of what makes a great leader, that of being a confident and over-the-top figure. Rather he asserts that leaders who guide companies to greatness are modest, selfless, and have a communal mindset.
“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.”
Collins further asserts that discipline should be upheld despite the hierarchy or level of employees in the company. Nurturing a culture of discipline in the workplace on all levels play a crucial role in elevating the company. The statement highlights the leap to greatness does not simply take place just from maintaining a standard operating culture. A conscious decision to shift specific goals and upholding a culture of discipline will transform a good company into a great one.
