Can you guess what THE signature quality possessed by great leaders is?

If you had to guess what the preeminent quality possessed by great leaders is, what would you guess? Intelligence? Perseverance? Empathy?

Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, has studied hundreds of of high performing organizations and senior executives, and his conclusion with regard to what distinguishes what he terms “Level 5 Leaders” – the very best business leaders in the world – may surprise you.

Speaking at the 2008 World Business Forum, Collins identified humility as the signature quality of Level 5 leaders. Collins spoke of a “special kind of humility:” a great leader possesses “passion for the work and the company, not for themselves.” This humility, combined with the ambition to make good on that passion, is the mark of a great leader. In Collins’s words, these leaders display a “paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.”

Click on this link or the following graphic for the story of David Maxwell, former CEO of Fannie Mae, and how he epitomizes this quality.

This quality isn’t limited to business leaders, by any means. Think for a moment about our nation’s greatest leaders. Abraham Lincoln believed that above all else, the nation must endure, and was willing to sacrifice everything to that end. Ben Franklin wrote, “A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.” How do you feel today’s political leaders would stack up against these great Americans? Please comment and share your thoughts.

Finally, think about yourself. Do you possess that unique combination of humility and passion? Are you concerned about your own success and betterment, or that of your organization? Are you a “Level 5″ leader? Collins provides a diagnostic tool to help you determine where you are on your journey from good to great; just click on the following image:

Finally, here’s a link to the 2009 World Business Forum.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider subscribing to Practical Hacks – just click on the orange RSS button in the header – or if you aren’t familiar with how RSS works, click on the “What’s that orange RSS button?” link at the top of the page for an explanation.