Comments on: Hubris: The Other Side of Level 5 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-07/hubris-the-other-side-of-level-5/ Leadership, followership, and purpose at work Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:54:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Capacity « Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-07/hubris-the-other-side-of-level-5/comment-page-1/#comment-331 Capacity « Bret L. Simmons Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:32:30 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=382#comment-331 [...] also think that a leader’s over confidence in their own competence can limit the capacity of [...] [...] also think that a leader’s over confidence in their own competence can limit the capacity of [...]

]]> By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-07/hubris-the-other-side-of-level-5/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Bret L. Simmons Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:38:21 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=382#comment-128 Alain: Sometimes we see most clearly looking in the rear view mirror. I very much appreciate your insight. Thanks for continuing to share your thoughts. Bret Alain: Sometimes we see most clearly looking in the rear view mirror. I very much appreciate your insight. Thanks for continuing to share your thoughts. Bret

]]> By: Alain Jourdier http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-07/hubris-the-other-side-of-level-5/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Alain Jourdier Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:46:13 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=382#comment-127 I too have been humbled and it took age to get me there and my own awareness that others are just as unique and can contribute to the solutions. I have worked for a mad man who thought only he could think critically. It was a situation where I went from hero to zero within a short amount of time due to my challenges...and then I was fired. That was humbling and freeing; it created an awareness of how I, too, would forge ahead without considering others. Hard lesson, but it's helped me set a far better course in my life. Another great post, Bret. I too have been humbled and it took age to get me there and my own awareness that others are just as unique and can contribute to the solutions. I have worked for a mad man who thought only he could think critically. It was a situation where I went from hero to zero within a short amount of time due to my challenges…and then I was fired. That was humbling and freeing; it created an awareness of how I, too, would forge ahead without considering others. Hard lesson, but it’s helped me set a far better course in my life. Another great post, Bret.

]]> By: Bret L. Simmons http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-07/hubris-the-other-side-of-level-5/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Bret L. Simmons Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:09:43 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=382#comment-123 Wally, I appreciate you pointing this out. One of my favorite things he says about Level 5 is that when the organization has an achievement they look out the window to credit others with success, but when things go wrong they look in the mirror at themselves to accept responsibility. The executive with hubris would take all the credit for the success and there would always be someone else to blame for problems. Once again, very valuable insight, Wally. Thanks! Bret Wally, I appreciate you pointing this out. One of my favorite things he says about Level 5 is that when the organization has an achievement they look out the window to credit others with success, but when things go wrong they look in the mirror at themselves to accept responsibility. The executive with hubris would take all the credit for the success and there would always be someone else to blame for problems.

Once again, very valuable insight, Wally. Thanks! Bret

]]> By: Wally Bock http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-07/hubris-the-other-side-of-level-5/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Wally Bock Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:55:12 +0000 http://www.bretlsimmons.com/?p=382#comment-122 Great post, Bret. I have a slightly different problem with Collins' Level 5. He uses the term humility, but what he describes is someone who gives priority to organizational performance compared with his own perks, reputation, etc. I'm reminded of Ben Franklin in his Autobiography. In the section on "The Bold and Arduous Project of Arriving at Moral Perfection," Franklin says that he added "humility" to his list of virtues to work on after another citizen chastised him for being proud. In his discussion of how he did, Franklin says the following about humility. "I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it." I suspect that may be the case with many effective executives have done the same. Part of their effectiveness, and what I think Collins observed, is that they concentrate on group performance and not their own importance. Great post, Bret. I have a slightly different problem with Collins’ Level 5. He uses the term humility, but what he describes is someone who gives priority to organizational performance compared with his own perks, reputation, etc. I’m reminded of Ben Franklin in his Autobiography. In the section on “The Bold and Arduous Project of Arriving at Moral Perfection,” Franklin says that he added “humility” to his list of virtues to work on after another citizen chastised him for being proud.

In his discussion of how he did, Franklin says the following about humility. “I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it.”

I suspect that may be the case with many effective executives have done the same. Part of their effectiveness, and what I think Collins observed, is that they concentrate on group performance and not their own importance.

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