According to Jim Collins, all 'good to great' companies have level 5 leaders. The article explains the characteristics of such leaders and their operating styles.
During the period 1951 to 1971, Kimberly-Clark's1 stock fell 36% behind the general market. Darwin E. Smith (Smith) the in-house lawyer was appointed the CEO of the company in 1971. He seemed to be an ordinary man with mild manners. He was shy and unpretentious and sometimes awkward; he also disliked being in limelight. Some of the directors thought that he was a wrong choice for the post of a CEO. Even Smith himself was not sure whether the Board had taken the right decision in choosing him as the CEO. However, Smith continued as the CEO for the next twenty years and demonstrated an intense professional will. Under his leadership, Kimberly Clark became a leading consumer paper products company in the world. Smith turned Kimberly Clark from a merely good to a truly great company. According to Jim Collins2 Darwin E. Smith is a classic example of Level 5 leadership. He epitomized both humility and strong will.
Levels of Leadership