Session 12: Level - 5 leadership

Finally! The last class for the so-called "pre-midterm session" of this course! And the discussion was intense not because of the clip that was shown today, but because of the interpretation of the clip as put forth by DC.

Today we were shown a few clips from the 1982 Richard Attenborough's movie "Gandhi". Most of you who had seen this movie may already be familiar with 3 important scenes:

1. The one where he is kicked out from the train in South Africa
2. The one where he refuses to stop burning his passport and does not hit back at the policeman in spite of being brutally injured by him
3. The one where he gives his first speech in India after travelling and seeing the villages

Clip 1 showed conflicting emotions - an angry Gandhi, but also a determined Gandhi, a person who wants to change this system altogether. He became a man, who didn't much for himself personally, rather was a man for the people. The clip where he doesn't hit back at the policeman shows that he leads by example. Preaching non-violence and then practicing the opposite would have done no good to him. He practiced what he preached, and showed the way to millions. Clip 3 showed his "exemplary" abilities as a speaker. Gandhi was a shy speaker. People didn't listen to him much. But he was determined and could move the hearts of the people who would listen to what he has to say.

According to David Maxwell, the key trait of Level 5 leaders is "ambition first and foremost for the company and concern for its success rather than for one’s own riches and personal renown". Gandhi would have been the best example of a Level-5 leader (the company being the entire nation). According to Jim Collins, Level-5 leaders are just like the leaders that we traditionally conceive, but with an “extra dimension”: a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. On the other hand, Level-4 leaders are equally efficient and strong. They deliver impressive results too. But what motivates them is their self interests. Consider the former HP CEO, Carly Fiorina - she was called the Rockstar CEO at one point of time. Her early career was a cracker in itself! But she had personal interests in her mind. She had delivered the results before, but her current performance was down. She left the company in a tattered state. She was a Level-4 leader, for whom the interests of the company were secondary (although she always claimed that she has HP in her mind first). The main trait of a Level-5 leader is the co-existence of contrary emotions; emotions that are under control by contrary mindsets. 

So, finally it boils to this: It's not being Level-4 or Level-5 that matters, but what qualities that they possess.

But we had a big discussion (we = class) about the conflicting emotions part. It was pretty confusing and I am sure even DC was confused. I, for once, was not confused, but the person who had the doubt had a reasonable doubt. Anger, with calmness and resolve, leads to motivation. This is what drove Gandhi.