Throw leaders into an extreme environment, and it will separate the stark differences between greatness and mediocrity. James C. Collins More Quotes by James C. Collins More Quotes From James C. Collins You can't manufacture passion or "motivate" people to feel passionate. You can only discover what ignites your passion and the passions of those around you. James C. Collins ignitepassionpeople The x factor of a great leader is humility combined with will. James C. Collins great-leaderleaderhumility Level 5 leaders are a study in duality: modest and willful, humble and fearless. James C. Collins fearlessleaderhumble Discipline is consistency of action. James C. Collins consistencydisciplineaction Leaders who led their organizations quietly and humbly, were much more effective than flashy, charismatic high profile leaders. James C. Collins profileorganizationleader 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. James C. Collins organizationdecisionleadership People need BHAGs - big hairy audacious goals. James C. Collins visiongoalpeople 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. James C. Collins leadergivinghands I am completely Socratic. James C. Collins socratic Not one of the good-to-great companies focused obsessively on growth. James C. Collins good-to-greatgrowthbusiness It took Einstein ten years of groping through the fog to get the theory of special relativity, and he was a bright guy. James C. Collins fogperseveranceyears Just because a company falls doesn't invalidate what we can learn by studying that company when it was at its historical best. James C. Collins studyhistoricalfall Creativity dies in an indisciplined environment. James C. Collins environmentdiescreativity It occurs to me,Jim,that you spend too much time trying to be interesting. Why don't you invest more time being interested?" Collin's advice from John Gardner that he took to heart. James C. Collins heartadviceinteresting Our findings do not represent a quick fix, or the next fashion statement in a long string of management fads, or the next buzzword of the day, or a new 'program' to introduce. No! The only way to make any company visionary is through a long-term commitment to an eternal process of building the organization to preserve the core and stimulate progress. James C. Collins fashionorganizationcommitment Be rigorous about your HR decisions. There is a difference between rigorous and ruthless. James C. Collins ruthlessdifferencesdecision First figure out your partners, then figure out what ideas to pursue. The most important thing isn't the market you target, the product you develop or the financing, but the founding team. James C. Collins teamimportantideas There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, "We will never give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail." James C. Collins giving-upmotivationallife Not all time in life is equal. How many opportunities do you get to talk about what your life is going to add up to with people thinking about the same question? James C. Collins opportunitypeoplethinking If your company disappeared, would it leave a gaping hole that could not easily be filled by any other enterprise on the planet? James C. Collins planetsholesleadership
