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James C. Collins Quotes

Author

James C. Collins was an American author known for his works in the fields of business management and organizational leadership. His writings delve into the key factors of corporate success and how individuals and teams can achieve excellence.

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All Company Good To Great People Ifs Business Leader Great Company Greatness Organization Decision Discipline Needs Important Leadership Should Turns Way Enemy Enough Firsts

Famous James C. Collins Quotes

“The greatest leaders build organizations that, in the end, don't need them.”

Needs Ends Leader Organization

Author:James C. Collins

“The difference between a good leader and a great leader is humility.”

Differences Leader Humility Great Leader Good Leader

Author:James C. Collins

“Leaders who led their organizations quietly and humbly, were much more effective than flashy, charismatic high profile leaders.”

Leader Organization Profile Charismatic Flashy High Profile

Author:James C. Collins

“The most effective leaders of companies in transition are the quiet, unassuming people whose inner wiring is such that the worst circumstances bring out their best. They're unflappable, they're ready to die if they have to. But you can trust that, when bad things are happening, they will become clearheaded and focused.”

People Ifs Dies Company Leader Worst Ready Circumstances Quiet Happenings Management Focused Bad Things Transition Ready To Die Wiring Unassuming

Author:James C. Collins

“If you have a charismatic cause you don't need to be a charismatic leader.”

Ifs Needs Causes Leader Charismatic

Author:James C. Collins

“You must ask, "What do we mean by great results?" Your goals don't have to be quantifiable, but they do have to be describable. Some leaders try to insist, "The only acceptable goals are measurable," but that's actually an undisciplined statement. Lots of goals-beauty, quality, life change, love-are worthy but not quantifiable. But you do have to be able to tell if you're making progress.”

Ifs Trying Mean Able Asks Goal Results Quality Leader Progress Worthy Statements Life Changing Acceptable Quality Of Life Undisciplined Great Results

Author:James C. Collins

“Recruit entrepreneurial leaders and give them freedom to determine the best path to achieving their objectives. On the other hand, individuals must commit fully to the system you use and be held rigorously accountable for their objectives. You give them freedom, but freedom within a framework.”

Giving Use Hands Individual Leader Path Achieve Determine Commit Objectives Framework Entrepreneurial Recruit

Author:James C. Collins

“Throw leaders into an extreme environment, and it will separate the stark differences between greatness and mediocrity.”

Differences Leader Environment Greatness Extremes Mediocrity Starks

Author:James C. Collins

“The x factor of a great leader is humility combined with will.”

Leader Humility Factors Great Leader

Author:James C. Collins

“Level 5 leaders are a study in duality: modest and willful, humble and fearless.”

Levels Leader Study Humble Fearless Modest Duality Good To Great

Author:James C. Collins

“Smart people instinctively understand the dangers of entrusting our future to self-serving leaders who use our institutions, whether in the corporate or social sectors, to advance their own interests.”

“I've never found an important decision made by a great organization that was made at a point of unanimity. Significant decisions carry risks and inevitably some will oppose it. In these settings, the great legislative leader must be artful in handling uncomfortable decisions, and this requires rigor.”

Made Important Found Leadership Decision Leader Risk Organization Significant Setting Settings Uncomfortable Rigor Decisions Made Important Decisions Unanimity Great Organizations

Author:James C. Collins

“Level 5 leaders are differentiated from other levels of leaders in that they have a wonderful blend of personal humility combined with extraordinary professional will. Understand that they are very ambitious; but their ambition, first and foremost, is for the company's success. They realize that the most important step they must make to become a Level 5 leader is to subjugate their ego to the company's performance. When asked for interviews, these leaders will agree only if it's about the company and not about them.”

Ifs Firsts Important Realizing Leadership Levels Business Company Leader Steps Wonderful Humility Ego Ambition Performances Agree Extraordinary Interviews Ambitious

Author:James C. Collins

“Level 5 leaders are fanatically driven, infected with an incurable need to produce sustained results. They are resolved to do whatever it takes to make the company great, no matter how big or hard the decisions.”

Needs Matter Hard Bigs Leadership Decision Levels Results Company Leader Produce Driven Decision Making Whatever It Takes

Author:James C. Collins

“Level 5 leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves and into the larger goal of building a great company. It's not that Level 5 leaders have no ego or self-interest. Indeed, they are incredibly ambitious-but their ambition is first and foremost for the institution, not themselves.”

Needs Firsts Self Goal Interest Levels Company Leader Building Ego Ambition Institutions Ambitious Self Interest Great Company Good To Great

Author:James C. Collins

About the Author

Born: January 25, 1958
Died: February 19, 1985
Known for: Author
Quotes: 137

Books & Sources

HBR's 10 Must Reads on StrategyRelated source material

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