Level 5 of The 5 Levels of Leadership
You may have heard it said that everything rises and falls on leadership.
But what exactly is leadership?
Leadership is influence.
The more influence you earn, the more people you can lead.
Some are natural-born leaders.
The rest of us have to learn how to be an effective leader.
Fortunately for us, there is a clear process, but a few points before we begin:
Point 1: You are at a different leadership level with each person.
Point 2: Each level builds upon the next.
Point 3: If you switch divisions for companies, you start over at Level 1, and have to earn your way back up.
There are 5 Levels of Leadership (see John Maxwell’s book The 5 Levels of Leadership) and yesterday we covered the fourth Level. On to Level 5!
Level 5: Pinnacle
While most people can learn to climb to Levels 1 through 4, Level 5 requires not only effort, skill, and intentionality, but also a high level of talent.
In fact, Level 5 leadership takes a lifetime to achieve because they have influenced massive amounts of growth.
They’ve created a legacy of growth that will continue without their presence.
Developing followers to lead on their own is difficult. Most leaders don’t do it because it takes so much more work than simply leading followers.
However, developing leaders to the point where they are able and willing to develop others 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 and as a result,
Level 5 leaders often transcend their position, their organization, and sometimes their industry.
Level 5 leaders have not only already read this book, they’ll more than likely have already published their own best seller.
The upside of the Pinnacle: Your influence has expanded beyond your reach and our time.
The downside of the Pinnacle: You may start to believe it’s all about you.
Here’s a recap of the 5 Levels of Leadership.
Level 1 Position
— Rights —
People follow you because they have to.
Level 2 Permission – Relationships
People follow you because they want to.
Level 3 Production
— Results —
People follow because of what you have done for the organization.
Level 4 People Development
— Reproduction —
People follow because of what you have done for them.
Level 5 Pinnacle
— Respect —
People follow because of who you are and what you represent.
Remember, you’re at a different level with every person and…
“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
― John Maxwell