America's Best Leaders 2009: John Chambers led one of the biggest comebacks of modern times

Cisco CEO John Chambers has humbly and graciously shared the credit for Cisco's success with others.

As a selection committee member for America's Best Leaders, Michael Useem - Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (whom by the way has also personally presented programs and seminars on leadership and change to Cisco Systems), appears to of had a hand in choosing Cisco CEO John Chambers for the honor of being named one of:

America's Best Leaders 2009

According to an America's Best profile written by Useem regarding Chambers' leadership success:

When AIG, Citi, and General Motors went into tailspins after the financial bubble burst in 2008, they abruptly changed leadership. But Cisco did not, and now in his 14th year as CEO—twice the norm for large companies—Chambers has led one of the biggest comebacks of modern times.

The Useem profile also shows that the always modest Chambers has absolutely no shyness about sharing credit for Cisco's success with others:

Chambers has built a management team that can help him render swift and informed decisions. He is known for acquiring firms (some 10 per year during his first decade at the helm, most of them successful). Asked what accounted for his capacity to pick winners, he pointed to his chief financial officer and board chair. They provided, says Chambers, a fast and frank evaluation of high-risk purchases.

Finally, Useem concluded his profile with even more modesty shown by Chambers:

On mention of his selection as a Best Leader, he insisted it was really a recognition of his team. And he'd like to be remembered, he said, for how "we changed the way the world looks, lives, learns, and plays."

Don't be shy, what's your take, is John Chambers being too modest when he shares credit for Cisco's success with others?

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• America's Best profile written by Useem regarding Chambers' success
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• Selection committee member for America's Best Leaders