Levels of Leadership I

 There are levels of leadership. Each level of leadership is unique. There are lessons to be learned at each level in order to move up to the next level.

I. POSITION LEADER

People follow because they HAVE to. This is leadership based on RIGHTS.

A.    This is entry-level leadership. If you stay here and never rise above this level of leadership, then four things are going to happen:

1.  People are going to develop territorial rights.

2.  They will develop a necessity for protocols.

3.  A heavy emphasis on tradition will develop.

4.  An overemphasis on organizational charts will occur.

      B. Title indicates AUTHORITY to lead.

        C. There are distinct differences between a BOSS and a leader.

1.  A boss drives workers, a leader coaches them.

2.  A boss depends on authority, a leader on goodwill.

3.  A boss inspires fear, a leader inspires enthusiasm.

4.  A boss says “I,” a leader says “We”.

        D. Characteristics of a “POSITIONAL leader”

1.     Security is based on title, not talent.

2.     This level is often gained by appointment, and all other levels are gained by ability.

3.     People will not follow a positional leader beyond his stated authority.

4.     They do only what is required when it’s required and no more for a positional leader.

5.     Morale is always low under a positional leader.

       E.  Biblical Example of a Positional Leader

1 Kings 12:1-17

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king…Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ⁴ “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” ⁵ So he said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” And the people departed. ⁶ Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” ⁷ And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” ⁸ But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him… ¹² So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.” ¹³ Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; ¹⁴ and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” ¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people…¹⁶ Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: “What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!” So Israel departed to their tents. ¹⁷ But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

 

        F.  Lessons that must be learned in order to move to the next level of

 leadership:

1.     Know your job thoroughly. You must know and understand not just your job description, but how it fits into the workable world

2.     Be aware of the history and the essence of the organization that you are a part

3.     Understand how the organization works

4.  Be a team player

5.   Accept responsibility

6.   Do more than is expected of you

7.   Offer suggestions

8.   Learn to become more people focused

II.        PERMISSION LEADER

People follow because they WANT to. This is leadership based on RELATIONSHIPS.

Leadership is getting people to work for you when they don’t feel obligated.

Leadership starts in the heart, not in the head.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

A.    This is the SECOND level of leadership.

1.  This leader leads by relationships (the way people feel about you).

2.  The leader gives time energy and focus to the followers’ needs and desires.

3.  People development becomes more important than pecking order.

        B. Caution! You cannot skip a level on this five-fold ladder of leadership.

        C. Biblical Example of Permission Leadership

1 Kings 10:1-8

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 6 Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7 However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. 8 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.

           D. Lessons that must be learned at this stage in order to move to the next level of

           Leadership:

1. Love People

2. Make others more successful than you

3. See through other people’s eyes

4. Be concerned with people more than procedures

5. Do “win-win“or don’t do it at all

6. Include others on your journey

7. Deal with difficult people wisely

III.                 PRODUCTION LEADER

People follow because they appreciate what you do for the organization. This is leadership based on RESULTS.

A.    This is the THIRD level of leadership.

B.    Good things begin to happen at this level.

C.     Biblical Example of a Production Leader

     1 Samuel 17:45-53

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcases of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

 

D.    Lessons that must be learned/added at this level to move to the next level of   leadership:

1. Initiate and except responsibility for growth

2. Develop and follow the statement of purpose

3. Develop accountability for results beginning with yourself

4. Know and do high return things

5. Communicate vision and strategy

6. Be a change agent and know timing

7. Make difficult decisions that make a statement