Where are you in your leadership journey?

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Morning friend☕️

Hope you had a restful weekend!

Have you ever wondered how you are doing as a leader/manager?

Are you doing the right things?

Where are you now?

Where to next?

Early in my management career, I was lucky enough to stumble on this book:

In this book, John C. Maxwell, (the #1 leadership expert according to AMA and Inc. Magazine) introduces leadership as the ability to influence people and gain followers.

"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another." – John C. Maxwell

In order to help people improve their influence, and therefore their leadership, he developed a tool call the 5 Levels of Leadership.

This tool painted a clear roadmap of the leadership journey for me, and I have been using it ever since.

We’re gonna see how you can use this roadmap with your own leadership journey.

Today, we’ve got our villain, Tywin Lannister to challenge things a bit.

Let’s see what he has to say about the 5 levels…

Ok, grab your coffee.

Let’s dive in!

 The 5 Levels of Leadership

The premise of the model is simple:

For each of the 5 levels, people follow you for different reason.

And with each jump in level, you exert a stronger level of influence over them.

Your goal as a leader is to excel at your current level, and grow to the next.

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Level 1: Position (Titles) – People Follow Because They Have To

This is where most new managers start.

Your team follows because of your title and positional power.

Not because they respect or trust you.

If you stay here too long, expect minimal engagement and the bare-minimum effort.

Sign you’re here: You find yourself saying, "Because I’m the boss" often and issuing orders more than asking.
How to Move Up: Build trust. Show genuine care for your team, and work to earn their respect rather than relying solely on authority.

Level 2: Permission (Relationships) – People Follow Because They Want To

At this level, people follow you because they like and trust you.

You’ve built authentic relationships, and your team feels valued.

Great leaders reach this stage by listening, showing empathy, and treating employees as individuals—not just as resources.

Sign You’re Here: Your team feels comfortable enough to share the real issues, not just what they think you want to hear.
Next Step: Now, it’s time to prove you can deliver tangible results.

Level 3: Production (Results) – People Follow Because of What You’ve Done for the Organization

Leadership begins to compound at this level.

Your team respects you because you get things done.

Your actions produce measurable results, and your impact is clear.

Sign You’re Here: You’re not merely talking about leadership; you’re demonstrating it through outcomes.
Next Step: Use your success to pave the way for developing future leaders.

Level 4: People Development (Reproduction) – People Follow Because of What You’ve Done for Them

At this stage, your leadership evolves from personal success to legacy-building.

Instead of hoarding knowledge, you invest in developing future leaders.

This is where the best leaders leave their mark.

To lead well, you must embrace your need for continual improvement.
– John C. Maxwell

Sign You’re Here: Your team members start moving up, and they thank you for the opportunity to grow.
Next Step: Extend your influence beyond your immediate circle, creating a ripple effect of empowered leaders.

Level 5: Pinnacle (Respect) – People Follow Because of Who You Are and What You Represent

Only a few ever reach this level.

These are the leaders who inspire not just within their own organizations, but across industries and even generations.

Think of figures like Nelson Mandela, Oprah, or Warren Buffett: people follow them because of their values and the legacy they leave behind.

When people respect you as a person, they admire you. When they respect you as a friend, they love you. When they respect you as a leader, they follow you.
– John C. Maxwell

What is it about? At this level, you spread the gospel of leadership. You coach managers who will achieve success themselves and train the next generation.

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Harsh truth: Many managers never move beyond Level 2

Many managers never move beyond Level 2.

Some never even escape Level 1.

Here’s how to progress:

• Master Level 2: Create a clear vision, listen actively, and treat your team with respect. You want to build trust.

• Break Through Level 3: Communicate effectively, encourage input, and embrace change. You want to deliver strong results.

• Ascend to Level 4: Lead by example, mentor your team, and actively work on developing talent. You want to grow your people.

• Strive for Level 5: Recognize that true leadership means creating leaders, not followers. You want to inspire others.

"A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position." – John C. Maxwell

Key Takeaway

Use the 5 levels as your roadmap for development:

Where do you currently stand?

Identify your growth areas for your current and next levels.

Map out a plan and commit to action.

Leadership isn’t defined by where you start.

It’s determined by how far you’re willing to go.

Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, the journey is ongoing.

Hope this helps you with your own leadership journey, as much as it helps me.

Are you ready to level up and unlock your hidden influence?

Thanks for joining me today, friend!

Till next monday! ☕️ 

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Further reading: Check out this excellent blog on the 5 levels by Tanya Ahmed