Definition of a Level 5 Leader: People follow you because of who you are and what you represent

Leadership at Level 5 lifts the entire organization and creates an environment that benefits everyone in it, contributing to their success.

-          John Maxwell, The 5 Levels of Leadership

Today’s post is the final in a series of five that takes a closer look at John Maxwell’s latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership. As indicated in the introduction to this series, “5 Levels” has been five years in the making. I’ve been in leadership development in ChurchWorld for over 30 years – and I’ve been looking for a resource like this.

To whet your appetite and convince you to drop everything and get your own copy today, over this series I’m going to quote Maxwell’s top 3 points in each of five sections for each of the 5 Levels. In math shorthand, that’s 3 x 5 x 5. The product of that equation is a leadership development gold mine for you!

 Level 5– The Pinnacle

The Upside of the Pinnacle

1. Pinnacle leadership creates a Level 5 organization
2. Pinnacle leadership creates a legacy within the organization
3. Pinnacle leadership provides an extended platform for leading

The Downside of the Pinnacle

1. Being on the pinnacle can make you think you’ve arrived
2. Being on the pinnacle can lead you to believe your own press
3. Being on the pinnacle can make you lose focus

Best Behaviors on Level 5

1. Make room for others at the top
2. Continually mentor potential Level 5 leaders
3. Create an inner circle that will keep you grounded

Help Others Move Up to Levels 4 and 5

1. Identify and create the crucial leadership lessons they must learn
2. Look for unexpected crucible moments they can learn from
3. Use your own crucible moments as guidelines to teach others

Guide to Being Your Best at Level 5

1. Remain and humble and teachable
2. Maintain your core focus
3. Create the right inner circle to keep you grounded

Developing leaders to the point where they are able and willing to develop other leaders is the most difficult leadership task of all. But here are the payoffs: Level 5 leaders develop Level 5 organizations. They create opportunities that other leaders don’t. They create legacy in what they do. People follow them because of who they are and what they represent. In other words, their leadership gains a positive reputation. As a result, Level 5 leaders often transcend their position, their organization, and sometimes their field.

If you are a leader in ChurchWorld asking “How can I develop leaders?”, then John Maxwell’s book The 5 Levels of Leadership will certainly provide you with proven steps to answer that question.

Definition of a Level 4 Leader: People follow you because of what you have done for them personally

Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.

-          John Maxwell, The 5 Levels of Leadership

Today’s post is the fourth of a series of five that takes a closer look at John Maxwell’s latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership. As indicated in the introduction to this series, “5 Levels” has been five years in the making. I’ve been in leadership development in ChurchWorld for over 30 years – and I’ve been looking for a resource like this.

To whet your appetite and convince you to drop everything and get your own copy today, over this series I’m going to quote Maxwell’s top 3 points in each of five sections for each of the 5 Levels. In math shorthand, that’s 3 x 5 x 5. The product of that equation is a leadership development gold mine for you!

 Level 4 – People Development

 The Upside of People Development

1. People development sets you apart from most leaders
2. People development assures that growth can be sustained
3. People development empowers others to fulfill their leadership responsibilities

 The Downside of People Development

1. Self-centeredness can cause leaders to neglect people development
2. Insecurity can make leaders feel threatened by people development
3. Shortsightedness can keep leaders from seeing the need for people development

Best Behaviors on Level 4

1. Recruiting – find the best people possible
2. Positioning – placing the right people in the right position
3. Modeling – showing others how to lead

Beliefs that Help a Leader Move Up to Level 5

1. The highest goal of leadership is to develop leaders, not gain followers or do work
2. To develop leaders, you must create a leadership culture
3. Developing leaders is a life commitment, not a job commitment

 Guide to Growing Through Level 4

1. Be willing to keep growing yourself
2. Decide that people are worth the effort
3. Work through your insecurities

 Good leaders on Level 4 invest their time, energy, money, and thinking into growing others as leaders. They look at every person and try to gauge his or her potential to grow and lead – regardless of the individual’s title, position, age, or experience. Every person is a potential candidate for development.

Tomorrow: Level 5 – The Pinnacle

Definition of a Level 3 Leader: People follow you because of what you have done for the organization

…good leaders don’t just create a pleasant working environment. They get things done! That’s why they must move up to Level 3, which is based on results.

-          John Maxwell, The 5 Levels of Leadership

Today’s post is the third of a series of five that takes a closer look at John Maxwell’s latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership. As indicated in the introduction to this series, “5 Levels” has been five years in the making. I’ve been in leadership development in ChurchWorld for over 30 years – and I’ve been looking for a resource like this. 

To whet your appetite and convince you to drop everything and get your own copy today, over this series I’m going to quote Maxwell’s top 3 points in each of five sections for each of the 5 Levels. In math shorthand, that’s 3 x 5 x 5. The product of that equation is a leadership development gold mine for you!

 Level 3 – Production

 The Upside of Production

1. Leadership production gives credibility to the leader
2. Leadership production models and sets the standard for others visually
3. Leadership production brings clarity and reality to vision

 The Downside of Production

1. Being productive can make you think you’re a leader when you’re not
2. Productive leaders feel a heavy weight of responsibility for results
3. Production leadership requires making difficult decisions

 Best Behaviors on Level 3

1. Understand how our personal giftedness contributes to the vision
2. Cast vision for what needs to be accomplished
3. Begin to develop your people into a team

 Beliefs That Help a Leader Move Up to Level 4

1. Production is not enough
2. People are an organization’s most appreciable asset
3. Growing leaders is the most effective way to accomplish the vision

 Guide to Growing Though Level 3

1. Be the team member you want on your team
2. Translate personal productivity into leadership
3. Understand everyone productivity niche

Leading and influencing others becomes fun on this level. Success and productivity have been known to solve a lot of problems. On Level 3, leaders can become change agents. They can tackle tough problems and face thorny issues. They can make difficult decisions that will make a difference. They can take their people to another level of effectiveness. 

Tomorrow: Level 4 – People Development

Definition of a Level 2 Leader: People follow you because they want to

The agenda for leaders on Level 2 isn’t preserving their position. It’s getting to know their people and figuring out how to get along with them. You can like people without leading them, but you cannot lead people well without liking them.

-          John Maxwell, The 5 Levels of Leadership

Today’s post is the second of a series of five that takes a closer look at John Maxwell’s latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership. As indicated in the introduction to this series, “5 Levels” has been five years in the making. I’ve been in leadership development in ChurchWorld for over 30 years – and I’ve been looking for a resource like this.

To whet your appetite and convince you to drop everything and get your own copy today, over this series I’m going to quote Maxwell’s top 3 points in each of five sections for each of the 5 Levels. In math shorthand, that’s 3 x 5 x 5. The product of that equation is a leadership development gold mine for you! 

Level 2 – Permission

The Upside of Permission

1. Leadership permission makes work more enjoyable
2. Leadership permission increases the energy level
3. Leadership permission opens up channels of communication

The Downside of Permission

1. Permission leadership appears too soft for some people
2. Leading by permission can be frustrating for achievers
3. Permissional leaders can be taken advantage of

Best Behaviors on Level 2

1. Connect with yourself before trying to connect with others
2. Develop a people-oriented leadership style
3. Practice the golden rule

Beliefs That Help a Leader Move Up to Level 3

1. Relationships alone are not enough
2. Building relationships requires twofold growth
3. Achieving the vision as a team is worth risking the relationship

Guide to Growing Through Level 2

1. Be sure you have the right attitude toward people
2. Connect with yourself
3. Understand where you’re coming from

Moving up to Level 2 is an important development in leadership because that is where the followers give their supervisors permission to lead them. People change from being subordinates to followers for the first time, and that means there is movement. Leadership always means that people are going somewhere. They aren’t static. No journey, no leadership.

Tomorrow: Level 3 – Production

Definition of a Level 1 leader: People follow you because they have to

Positional leadership is based on the rights granted by the position and the title. Nothing is wrong with having a leadership position. Everything is wrong with using a position to get people to follow. Position is a poor substitute for influence.

-          John Maxwell, The 5 Levels of Leadership

 Today’s post is the first of a series of five that takes a closer look at John Maxwell’s latest book, The 5 Levels of Leadership. As indicated in the introduction to this series, “5 Levels” has been five years in the making. I’ve been in leadership development in ChurchWorld for over 30 years – and I’ve been looking for a resource like this.

To whet your appetite and convince you to drop everything and get your own copy today, over the next five days I’m going to quote the top 3 points in each of five sections for each of the 5 Levels. In math shorthand, that’s 3 x 5 x 5. The product of that equation is a leadership development gold mine for you!

Level 1 – Position

The Upside of Position

1.       A leadership position is usually given to people because they have leadership potential

2.       A leadership position means authority is recognized

3.       A leadership position is an invitation to grow as a leader

The Downside of Position

1.       Having a leadership position is often misleading

2.       Leaders who rely on position to lead often devalue people

3.       Positional leaders feed on politics 

Best Behaviors on Level 1

1.       Stop relying on position to push people

2.       Trade entitlement for movement

3.       Leave your position and move toward your people 

Beliefs That Help a Leader Move Up to Level 2

1.       Titles are not enough

2.       People – not position – are a leader’s most valuable asset

3.       A leader doesn’t need to have all the answers

Guide to Growing through Level 1

1.       Thank the people who invited you into leadership

2.       Dedicate yourself to leadership growth

3.       Define your leadership

Position is a good starting place – but great leaders are not content to stay there. Moving up from Level 1 to Level 2 requires the greatest personal change from a leader. It requires a change of beliefs and attitudes toward other people and leadership. But here’s the truth: once you decide to include others in the leadership journey, you are well on your way to achieving success at the other levels.

Tomorrow: Level 2 – Permission