The Business of Leadership
5 Levels Of
Leadership
By : Bonnie Benkula , BSHCA , MBA Certified Coach , Speaker , Trainer The John Maxwell
TEAM The Leaven Exchange Bonnie @ Benkula . com
In John Maxwell ’ s book , The 5 Levels of Leadership : Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential , John provides a great paradigm for understanding leadership and some great tools for understanding where you fit on the 5 Levels of Leadership .
This book is an excellent source for understanding leadership growth and how to progress in your leadership abilities and ultimately your expanding your influence . Here is a summary for your review :
Level 1 : Position
The level of Position is the lowest level of leadership — the entry level and a great place to start for an aspiring leader .
• Level 1 leaders are the “ Boss ” but they are never leaders
• People follow because they have to based on title . P
• People do only what is required of them
• Anyone can be appointed a leader at this level – no ability or effort required to achieve
• Organization Charts , rules and regulations control their people Level 2 – Permission
Making the shift from Position to Permission brings a person ’ s first real step into leadership . Leadership is influence , and when a leader learns to function on the Permission level , everything changes .
• People follow because they want to follow
• The leader influences people with relationship not just position .
• People feel liked , included , valued , and trusted
• They begin to work together with their leader
• People begin to work better with each other
The leader who masters this level of Permission leadership can change the entire working environment to a more positive environment .
Level 3 : Production
Production qualifies and separates true leaders from people who merely occupy leadership positions . Many leaders never get beyond the Production level and spend their entire career at this level . Yet can make a significant impact on an organization .
• Leaders are they productive individually
• Leaders build teams that are able to produce
• No one can fake Level 3 . Either you ’ re producing for the organization and adding to its bottom line ( whatever that may be ), or you ’ re not .
• Some people never move up from Level 2 Permission to Level 3 Production .
• Leaders are getting results , tackling tough problems
• Leaders are making some tough decisions and making a difference .
21 MOMENTUM / March 2018