The Five Levels of Leadership

Session # TU217
By Dr. John C. Maxwell

The Five Levels of Leadership

The Law of _________________ The True Measure of Leadership is Influence Nothing More, Nothing Less
The #1 Question of a Leader who wants to Lead Others:
_____________________________________________________________

5
__________
People follow
because of who
you are and
what you
represent

NOTE: This step is

reserved for leaders
who have spent
years growing people
and organizations.
Few make it. Those
who do are bigger than
life.

____________ NOTE: This is where longPeople follow

because of what
you have done
for ________.

3
__________

People follow
because of
what you
have done for
the
__________.

_____________
People follow
because they
__________ to.

range growth occurs. Your

commitment to developing
leaders will insure ongoing
growth to the organization and
to people. Do whatever you can
to achieve and stay on this level.

NOTE: This is where success is sensed

by most people. They like you and what
you are doing. Problems are fixed with
very little effort because of momentum.

NOTE: People will follow you beyond your stated

authority. This level allows work to be fun. Caution:
Staying too long on this level without rising will cause
highly motivated people to become restless.

1
__________
People follow
because they
________ to.

NOTE: Your influence will not extend beyond the lines of your
job description. The longer you stay here, the higher the turnover
and the lower the morale.

CLIMBING THE STEPS OF LEADERSHIP (Influence)

The following are truths that will enable you to better interpret the Steps of
Leadership diagram on the previous page. Consider them, as you think
about what level you are on with the people you lead.
1. The higher you go, the ___________________________________________.
2. The higher you go, the ___________________________________________.
3. The higher you go, the ___________________________________________.
4. The higher you go, the ___________________________________________.
5. You never leave a level below, _____________________________________.
6. As a leader, you wont be on the _______________ with all of your people.
7. You must work to carry _______________________ with you up the steps.
The Three Key Levels of Leadership
#1 is Given to You
#5 is Automatic IF you do #s 1-4 well for a long period of time.
#2 ______________________ Your ability to Connect with People.
#3 ______________________ Your ability to Lead people & the
organization.
#4 ______________________________ Your ability to Grow & Train
people.
1. The Permission Level Your Ability to Connect with People
Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated.
Fred Smith

The Law of Connection Leaders Touch a Heart BEFORE They Ask for a
Hand The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Two Connecting Thoughts
1. Connecting with People Begins with _______________ for People.
You can ________________ people without leading them, but
you cannot ______________ people without loving them.
Most chief executives of major companies, when asked what one single
characteristic is most needed by those in leadership positions, replied, The
ability to work with people.
Teddy Roosevelt said, The most important single ingredient to the
formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.
John Rockefeller, who built giant corporations, stated that he would pay
more for the ability to deal with people than any other ability under the sun.
The Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina,
studied 105 successful executives and discovered the following:
They admitted their mistakes and accepted the consequences,
rather than trying to blame others.
They were able to get along with a wide variety of people.
They had strong interpersonal skills, sensitivity to others, and
tact.
They were calm and confident, rather than moody and volatile.
Unsuccessful executives tended to be too tough, abusive, sarcastic, aloof,
or unpredictable. Their worst fault was being insensitive to others.

High Achievers

Low Achievers

Cared about _________ as well as

____________

Were preoccupied with their own

________________

Viewed subordinates
________________________

Showed a basic ______________ of

subordinates.

Sought _____________ Were

Avoided _____________________
Relied on Policy Manuals.

_________________

2. Connecting with People Continues by _________________ with People.

Connect with people by communicating HELP to them:

H ________________________
E ________________________
L ________________________
P ________________________

2. The Production Level Your Ability to Lead People & the

Organization
You cant build a reputation on what youre going to do. Henry Ford

Your accomplishments are much more vital to your success than

your seniority. When a recent survey asked executives and
personnel directors what would be the most influential factor in
evaluating an employee for promotion:

__________ specific accomplishments

__________ seniority
Survey conducted by Accountemps, a temporary personnel
service and placement organization.

Sel not Spel

A newly hired traveling salesman wrote his first sales report to the
home office. It so stunned the brass in the sales department because
it was obvious that the new salesman was ignorant! Heres what he
wrote:
I seen this outfit which they aint
never bot a dims worth of nothing
from us and I sole them some goods.
Im now goin to Chicawgo.
Before the man could be given the heave-ho by the sales manager,
along came this letter from Chicago:
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I cum hear and sole them haff a millyon.

Fearful if he did, and afraid if he didnt fire the ignorant salesman,
the sales manager dumped the problem in the lap of the president.
The following morning, the ivory towered sales department members
were amazed to see posted on the bulletin-board above the two
letters written by the ignorant salesman this memo from the
president:
We ben spendin two much time trying
to spel instead of tryin to sel.
Lets watch those sails. I want
everybody should read these letters
from Gooch who is on the rode doin
a grate job for us and you should
go out and do like he done.

There is a man in the world who never gets turned down, wherever he
chances to stray; he gets the glad hand in the populous town, or out where
the farmers make hay; he is greeted with pleasure on deserts of sand, and
deep in the isles of the woods; wherever he goes there is a welcoming hand
hes the man who delivers the goods. Walt Whitman
Review: 3 Keys to Effective Leadership
1. The Permission Level Your Ability to Connect with People.
2. The Production Level Your Ability to Lead People & the Organization.
3. The People Development Level Your Ability to Grow & Train
People
The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork
Law #4 The Law of Mt. Everest As the Challenge Escalates the
Need for Teamwork Elevates

Three Mt. Everest Questions

1. ______________________________________ What could be
2. ______________________________________ What is
3. ______________________________________ What Must Be

Law #11 The Law of the Bench Great Teams Have Great Depth
The future of the Team Can Be Predicted by Three Things:
1. ___________________ Who is joining the team?
2. ___________________ Are the team member being developed?
3. ___________________ Who is leaving the team?
Keys to Finding and Keeping Good People
1. ___________________ them strategically
2. ___________________ them continually
3. ___________________ them correctly
4. ___________________ them highly

LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP
Level #1 POSITION (Rights)
Successful characteristics of this level.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Know your job description thoroughly.

Relate it to the organization.
Relate it to the people of the organization.
Do it with consistent excellence.
Accept responsibility.
Do more than is expected.

Level #2 PERMISSION (Relationships)

Successful characteristics of this level.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Be positive.
Possess a genuine love for people.
See through other peoples eyes.
Make those who work around you more successful.
Do win-win or dont do it.
Include others in your journey.
15% of your success is product knowledge
85% of your success is people knowledge

Level #3 PRODUCTION (Results)

Successful characteristics of this level.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Develop a Statement of Purpose that calls for growth.

Place the organizations resources under that Statement of Purpose.
Develop accountability for resultsbegin with yourself.
Know and do the things which give a high return.
Become a change-agentunderstand timing.

Level #4 PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT (Reproduction)

Successful characteristics of this level.
1. Place top priority on developing people the most valuable asset you
have.
2. Be a model for others to follow.
3. Pour your leadership efforts into the top 20%.
4. Expose your leaders to growth opportunities.
5. Equip leaders to equip others.

Five-Step Equipping Process:

1) I do it.
2) I do it and they are with me.
3) They do it and I am with them.
4) They do it.
5) They do it and someone is with them.
6. Surround yourself with those who compliment your leadership.

Level #5 PERSONHOOD (Respect)

Successful characteristics of this level.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Followers are sacrificial and loyal.

Has mentored many who follow your steps.
Becomes a statesman/consultant to followers.
Authority of new leaders is given by this person.
Success of new leaders gauged by this persons life.
Transcends the organization.

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