The Explainer: What it takes to be a great leader

What makes some companies go from good to great?

Jim Collins and his research team examined 30 years of data from over a thousand companies and identified factors that contributed to outsized market performance, including one they termed level-five leadership(五级领导力的因素). 

contribute to 捐助;促成;对……贡献

outsize adj.特大的

Leadership ability ranges from highly capable individuals at level one to contributing team members, competent managers, effective leaders, and finally, the fifth and final level, effective executives. 

highly capable individuals 能力强的个人

competent adj.能胜任的,有能力的

Being a full-fledged level-five leader requires the capabilities of all the lower levels, such as the level-four ability to both improve company performance and paint a clear and compelling vision, but level-five leaders have something special that separates them from the rest, namely the rare combination of fierce resolve and personal humility. 

full-fledged 经过充分训练的;全面发展的,万全发展的

fledged adj.快会飞的;羽毛丰满的;成熟的

improve company performance 提升公司业绩

paint a clear and compelling vision 描绘出清晰且令人信服的愿景

compelling adj.引人注目的,扣人心弦的;令人信服的;非常强烈的(compelling force 强制力)

compel vt.强迫,使不得不 

fierce resolve 强烈决心

resolve vt./vi.决定(做);居心;分解(into);溶解  n.坚决;决定要做的事

When faced with setbacks, they look in the mirror, blaming themselves for underperformance, never external factors or bad luck. When their companies succeed, however, the mirror turns into a window and they give credit to others

setback n.挫折;周折

give credit to others 给予他人荣耀

(Tips:挫折是镜子,看自己不足;成功是窗户,把光照向别人)

The funny thing is this does not reflect reality.

According to the research, the level-five leaders were responsible for their company's success, but they would never admit it. 

In fact, although they're very ambitious, level-five leaders rarely talk about themselves. 

Instead, they channel(译为:引导)their ambition into something bigger than personal achievement. 

To grasp this concept, consider US president Abraham Lincoln, a reserved, even shy leader who nonetheless held the country together during the Civil War

nonetheless adv.虽然如此,但是

Civil War 内战

Despite monumental losses on both sides, his resolute determination to unify the country resulted in the reunited nation becoming a world power.

monu'mental  adj.纪念碑的;纪念物的;雄伟的,巨大的;不朽的;(错误的)极大的,非常的

It might be a stretch to compare a great CEO to a president like Lincoln, but the level-five leaders in the study displayed the same kind of duality, modest yet willful, quiet yet fierce

duality n.二元性

(Tips:modest yet willful, quiet yet fierce 谦虚但任性,安静但激烈)

If you're thinking that sounds like a rare combination of traits, you're right. 

Ironically, the drive that often propels people into level-four leadership stands at odds with the humility required to rise to level five, and too many companies reward extroverted style over substance

i'ronically adv.讽刺地

at odds with 与……不一致;与……不和

odds n.不平等;几率;胜算;差别

against all odds 困难重重

odd adj.奇怪的;古怪的;单的;奇数的;临时的;余下的,零头的

extroverted adj.外向性的,喜社交的

extrovert n.性格外向的人

substance n.物质;实质,本体;主旨,要领

To help your company go from good to great, seek out the fierce but humble leaders you may have overlooked.

overlook vt.忽略;俯瞰;远眺;不计较,宽恕;监督;检查  n.忽视;眺望

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