From where I’m sitting we’re all leaders, in different capacities. With that in mind, we can all use a boost in how we go about leading in our realm. Many of us have at least heard of leadership guru John C. Maxwell. In fact for many people when they think of information about becoming a good leader, they think of things that Maxwell has said or written. Not sounding familiar? That’s ok. I’d like to introduce you to him and one of my favorite books he’s written. “The 5 Levels of Leadership”.
In this book, Maxwell dispels the myth that position or title equals leadership. True leaders are those who stand for something great and do things in line with a greater cause. Maxwell shares that the five levels include:
- Position – People follow because they have to. You’ve been given a title that says you’re the boss.
- Permission – People follow because they want to. People have enough buy-in on you as leader they voluntarily go where you lead them.
- Production – People follow because of what you have done for the organization. Your actions have proven to your followers that you are worth following.
- People Development – People follow because of what you have done for them personally. You’ve put enough into developing others that people value your leadership as a developer of people as well as processes.
- Personhood – People follow because of who you are and what you represent. Your character has stood the test of time and has been refined like gold and has proven to be of high value.
Consider this book for your next investment into your business library. For me, it showed me the level of leader I am now and what I’m capable of becoming. For you maybe something else. But there’s something there for sure to get that boost to reaching new potential in leadership capabilities.