Five 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.
· Leadership based on RIGHT
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. There will be an overemphasis on organizational charts.
B. Title indicates AUTHORITY to lead.
C. Differences between a BOSS and a leader:
A boss drives workers, and a leader coaches them
A boss depends on authority, a leader on goodwill
A boss inspires fear, a leader inspires enthusiasm
A boss says “I,” a leader says “We”
D. Characteristics of a “POSITIONAL leader.”
· Security is based on title, not talent
This level is often gained by appointment while all other levels are gained by ability.
People will not follow a positional leader beyond his stated authority. They do only what is required when it’s required and no more for a positional leader.
Morale is always low under a positional leader.
E. Biblical Example of a Positional Leader
Moses Initiating His Ministry
Exodus 4:27-5:2
27 And the Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. 28 So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. 30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. 1Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”…2 And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”
F. Lessons that must be learned in order to move to the next level of leadership:
1. As a positional leader, you must know your job thoroughly. You must know and understand, not just your job description, but how it fits into the workable world.
2. You should be aware of the history and the essence of the organization that you are a part of.
3. Understand how the organization works.
4. Be a team player.
5. Accept responsibility.
6. Do more than what is expected of you.
7. Offer suggestions.
8. Learn to become more people focused.
II. PERMISSION LEADER
People follow because they WANT to.
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.
This is the SECOND level of leadership.
This leader leads by relationships - the way people feel about him/her.
The leader gives time energy and focus to the followers’ needs and desires.
People development becomes more important than the pecking order.
A. Caution! - You cannot skip a level on this five-fold ladder of leadership.
B. Biblical Example of Permission Leadership
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 carcasses 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.
C. 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.
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
Exodus 11:4-8
4 Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.
D. Lessons that must be learned/added at this level to move to the next level of leadership:
1. Initiate and accept 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
IV. PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT LEADER
People follow because they appreciate what you do for them.
Leadership based on REPRODUCTION.
A. A leader is great, not because of his power, but because of his ability to INSPIRE others.
A worker’s main goal is doing the work. A leader’s main objective is developing others to do the work.
B. Loyalty to a leader reaches its highest peak when a follower (another leader) as/is personally grown through the MENTORSHIP of the leader.
C. Biblical Example of a Reproduction Leader
1 Samuel 22:1, 2
David, therefore, departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 And every one that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
2 Samuel 23:8-23
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite because he had killed eight hundred men at one time….11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam….15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord….
18 Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them…20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada,…He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did and won a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.
D. Lessons that must be learned/added at this level in order to move to the next level:
1. Realize people are your most important asset
2. Prioritize people
3. Be a model for others to follow
4. Pour your leadership into the top 20% of your people
5. Expose key leaders to growth opportunities
6. Attract other winners/producers
7. Surround yourself with an inner core of the leaders who complement and extend your leadership
V. PERSON LEADER
People follow because they appreciate who you are and what you represent.
Leadership based on RESPECT
A. Most have not ARRIVED at this level.
B. Biblical Example
John 6:63-69
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it was given unto him of my Father.” 66 From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
C. Characteristics of Level 5 Leadership
1. Your leaders are loyal and sacrificial
2. You spent years mentoring and pouring into people
3. You have become a statesman and consultant, sought out by leaders
4. Your greatest joy is seeing others grow
5. You transcend the organization
CONCLUSION:
Additional insights on Levels of Leadership:
1. The higher you go, the longer it takes between steps.
2. The higher you go, the higher the level of commitment from you and from others to you.
3. The higher you go, the easier it is to lead because you are becoming what you do and you’re doing what you are.
4. The higher you go, the greater the personal growth.
5. Each level is based on all of those beneath it. You can’t skip over any of these levels. You can illuminate any of these lessons.
6. You must know what level you are on at any given time with different people.
If your top leaders are on level four or above, you will be successful 95% of the time; therefore, you’re going to succeed. Now, if your top influencers are on lower levels or are not supportive at all, you’re more than likely going to fail.
7. Not everyone can be a great leader, but everyone can be a better leader. For leaders are not born, but leaders developed in leadership can learn.
Influencers who are on lower levels or are not supportive at all will more likely cause you to fail.
HOW
You have to see something to be something
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
