Name: 【商務英文】想成為讓人追隨的領導者，從哪裡開始？ (The Explainer: What It Takes to Be a Great Leader)
Uploaded: 2025-09-09T21:01:20.000Z
Duration: 2 min 24 s

What makes some companies go from good to great?

要如何讓公司從優秀邁向卓越？

Jim Collins and his research team examined 30 years of data from over a thousand companies

Jim Collins 和他的研究團隊觀察了逾千間公司 30 年的數據，

and identified factors that contributed to outsized market performance, including one they termed "level-five leadership".

找出了促成超常市場表現的因素，包括他們所謂的「第五級領導者」。

Leadership ability ranges from highly capable individuals at level one

領導能力的範圍從個人實力堅強的第一級

to contributing team members, competent managers, effective leaders, and finally, the fifth and final level, effective executives.

到貢獻的團隊成員、稱職的經理、有效率的領導者，到最後第五級卓有成效的高階主管。

Being a full-fledged level-five leader requires the capabilities of all the lower levels,

要成為成熟的五級領導者，需要具備所有較低層的能力，

such as the level-four ability to both improve company performance and paint a clear and compelling vision.

例如第四級提高公司績效並提出清晰且具競爭力願景的能力。

But level-five leaders have something special that separates them from the rest,

但第五級領導者有一個讓他們脫穎而出的特點，

namely, the rare combination of fierce resolve and personal humility.

也就是堅定決心和個人謙虛的罕見結合。

When faced with setbacks, they look in the mirror, blaming themselves for underperformance, never external factors or bad luck.

面對挫折時，他們會看著鏡子指責自己差強人意的表現，從不怪罪於外在因素或運氣不好。

When their companies succeed, however, the mirror turns into a window and they give credit to others.

不過當他們的公司成功時，那面鏡子會變成窗戶，他們便會獎勵員工。

The funny thing is, this does not reflect reality.

According to the research, the level-five leaders were responsible for their company's success, but they would never admit it.

研究顯示，第五級領導者是公司成功的功臣，但他們永遠不會承認。

In fact, although they're very ambitious, level-five leaders rarely talk about themselves.

事實上，雖然第五級領導者很有野心，但他們很少談論自己。

Instead, they channel their ambition into something bigger than personal achievement.

相反地，他們將自己的野心轉變成比個人成就還要偉大的事情。

To grasp this concept, consider US President Abraham Lincoln,

為了理解這個概念，試想美國前總統亞伯拉罕・林肯，

a reserved⏤even shy⏤leader who, nonetheless, held the country together during the Civil War.

一個保守，甚至害羞的領導者，卻仍能在南北戰爭期間將國家凝聚在一起。

his resolute determination to unify the country resulted in the reunited nation becoming a world power.

他堅決統一國家的決心最終使這個重新統一的國家成為一個世界強權。

It might be a stretch to compare a great CEO to a president like Lincoln,

將一位傑出的執行長和像林肯這樣的總統相比可能有些牽強，

but the level-five leaders in the study displayed the same kind of duality: modest yet willful, quiet yet fierce.

但研究中的第五級領導者表現出同樣的雙重特質：謙遜卻堅決、沉靜卻強悍。

If you're thinking that sounds like a rare combination of traits, you're right.

如果你覺得這是很獨特的人格特質，你說的沒錯。

Ironically, the drive that often propels people into level-four leadership stands at odds with the humility required to rise to level five.

很諷刺的是，驅動人們晉升到第四級領導力所需的動力，往往會與達到第五級所需的謙遜特質背道而馳。

And too many companies reward extroverted style over substance.

而且太多公司獎勵外在風格，而非實質內涵。

To help your company go from good to great, seek out the fierce but humble leaders you may have overlooked.

為了幫助你的公司從優秀邁向卓越，請找出身邊你可能忽略了的、既強悍又謙遜的領導者。