John C. Maxwell is a powerhouse in the world of leadership, garnering worldwide acclaim for his books and expertise on the subject. His works have sold over 30 million copies across the globe. He was also awarded top honors as a business leader by AMA, Business Insider, and Inc. Magazine, solidifying him as one of today’s most influential voices on all things related to leading with success.
One of the most renowned theories developed by Maxwell is his 5 Levels of Leadership. With a career spanning over five decades, John Maxwell has been an integral part of leadership development. His 5 Levels Of Leadership model outlines the path for any leader to reach their full potential. And remarkable success stories, such as Microsoft’s former COO Kevin Turner, are a testament to this ideology. His teachings may be your best way forward to becoming a great leader.
That said, let’s take a closer look at the 5 levels of leadership Maxwell proposes. This article will help you determine which stage of leadership is yours and what steps you can take to progress.
What Are The 5 Levels Of Leadership?
John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership offers invaluable insight into becoming a successful leader. By combining his 50 years of experience with expertise in leadership and motivation, he created five distinct steps: Position, Permission, Production, People Development, and Pinnacle. Each level supports key actions that can take you further along your journey toward becoming an effective leader with devoted followers.
Level 1: Position
At this level, people follow you because they have to.
One is in a formal leadership position and holds a certain title or rank. People listen to you because they have been asked to by those higher up on the chain of command. However, there is no emotional commitment, as followers obey out of duty, not loyalty.
Maxwell has aptly described the experiences of those at a higher leadership level. While they may have a job title, they usually lack the power to influence others. As such, many are left feeling isolated in the literal and figurative sense- it truly is lonely at the top.
It’s not all bad at this level. Take advantage of the unique opportunity to invest in yourself as a leader. With strategic planning and discipline, you can improve yourself for advancement – learn how to prioritize tasks, build trust with others, and develop outstanding leadership skills that will ensure success when it comes time to advancing to the next leadership level.
Level 2: Permission
At this level, people follow you because they want to.
At Level 2 Leadership, the dynamics with your followers are no longer based on obligation but rather a choice. Here, followers give leaders their permission to lead. Every leader at this level knows that leading is more than just having authority. It’s about establishing strong connections and earning respect through mutual trust and admiration. Here, people genuinely want to follow your lead because they trust and appreciate who you are as a leader.
To truly excel as a leader at this level, one should take the time to foster meaningful relationships within their team beyond simply professional ties. Showing interest in those around them, complimenting strengths, and understanding personal lives leads to better communication and collaboration, which is essential for successful work output.
Level 3: Production
At this level, people follow you because of what you have done for the organization.
Here, leaders foster a culture of trust and results. Their followers are drawn to them, knowing they’ll take the team in the right direction. These individuals possess exceptional leadership skills that inspire others toward success.
Level 3 leaders enjoy the unique satisfaction of seeing tangible results from their efforts. Through hard work, dedication, and clear communication, they are able to motivate people by example, building influence based on a proven track record of success.
This level is where true transformational change can occur, advancing further than ever before as everyone moves forward with shared goals for improved morale, increased profits, and decreased turnover rates. This collaborative endeavor makes leadership enjoyable as organizations reach new heights in performance.
Level 4: People Development
At this level, people follow you because of what you have done for them.
Level 4 leaders are invaluable assets to any organization. These pioneering individuals have the empathy and selflessness needed to prioritize their team’s success. They go above and beyond in demonstrating leadership with integrity. They possess the wisdom to recognize opportunities for improvement while recognizing individual strengths. Thus, it enables them to provide guidance tailored to each follower’s growth journey.
Leaders know the value of investing in their teams and helping them progress. As a level 4 leader, you’ll be rewarded with followers due to demonstrating your ability to help others become leaders too! Giving back and developing other people’s leadership skills will open up opportunities for broader responsibilities and create better potential for yourself, granting an advancement into higher levels of leadership.
Level 5: Pinnacle
At this level, people follow you because of who you are and your quality.
Level 5 leaders are rare, and their influence extends beyond the borders of organizations, leaving an impressive legacy that profoundly impacts people’s lives. They inspire powerful devotion from those around them due to their accomplishments, character traits, and what they stand for in society. These leaders have been credited with driving monumental change globally, both personally among followers and institutionally across organizations.
Rising to the highest leadership level requires dedication, patience, and intentionality. Achieving Level 5 leadership is a long-term investment that only those willing to invest their lives in growing themselves and developing others will achieve.
Becoming a Pinnacle leader can be immensely rewarding. They create an impressive legacy through their commitment to success, inspiring people with what they do and represent while gaining respect among peers along the way.
How To Move Up The 5 Levels Of Leadership?
Leaders are constantly evolving, and knowing where you stand on the ladder of success is important. Breaking down each level can help identify your current position so you can take proper steps toward advancement.
Leaders must focus on personal development and professional growth to progress through the five levels. Self-reflection, feedback from peers and mentors, and adapting to new challenges are essential to moving up the leadership ladder.
Read on to gain insight into the features of each level, learn how to overcome obstacles at the 5 levels of leadership, and get tips on reaching the pinnacle.
Level 1: The Leader That’s Assigned To Lead
Level one is the starting point of leadership, where success only comes with developing one’s skills. Without strong capabilities, a title does not guarantee successful leadership.
As John Maxwell points out, loyalty and passion are lacking when people only follow a leader due to obligation. As a result, they provide mere compliance rather than true commitment. It’s at Level One, however, where individuals first demonstrate their potential as leaders. But without honing those abilities further, one can remain just an ‘authority figure’ in name alone.
Level One leaders may not have the influence or authority to lead their teams effectively. However, with strong relationships built on mutual trust and respect, they can quickly become great Level Two leaders capable of motivating and inspiring those around them. Developing these powerful connections is a surefire way for anyone to take charge as an effective leader.
Here’s how you can ascend to leadership level 2:
- Develop emotional intelligence and empathize with those around you.
- Learn and practice situational leadership. Situational leadership is based on the concept of recognizing each employee’s unique situation and customizing an approach to motivate them.
- Recognize and praise good work to increase motivation.
- Develop your coaching skills as a leader by offering meaningful, constructive feedback and being open-minded about the advice you receive.
- Communicate with your team members through one-on-one meetings regularly.
- Learn management skills.
- Make an effort to collaborate with team members.
Level 2: The Leader With Approval From Followers
Level Two leaders stand a class apart from their lower-level counterparts since they can effectively earn the trust and respect of those directly reporting to them. By building strong relationships over time, these individuals become accepted by their peers as someone whose guidance is welcomed willingly.
As Maxwell puts it: when we show each individual our appreciation for having shared value in an organization, there grows an understanding whereby leadership becomes granted naturally with no strings attached.
Reaching Level Two signifies a person’s commitment to becoming an elite Level 5 leader. However, excelling into the third level requires more than just admiration from others – it necessitates real accomplishments and sustainable success for true growth in leadership skills.
Here’s how you can ascend to leadership level 3:
- Be open to constant learning and feedback.
- Create and communicate a clear mission and vision with employees.
- Treat all employees equally.
- Provide support to all employees.
- Involve employees in setting goals by discussing relevant key performance indicators (KPIs).
- To maximize your effectiveness, stay disciplined with time management strategies. Concentrate on tasks only you can handle while offloading other duties to those better suited for the job.
- Establish achievable deadlines and monitor progress towards individual goals and collective objectives with project management apps.
- Hold people accountable for mistakes.
- Dedicate specific days to planning and strategizing.
Level 3: The Leader Who Generates Results
It’s a well-known fact that there are two types of people in the business community: those who get things done and those who make excuses. Maxwell says Level Three leaders, however, strive to produce positive outcomes using accepted leadership practices. Their ambitions mean they constantly practice transformational, charismatic, and democratic styles, doing their utmost to inspire others toward achieving even difficult goals.
Level Three leaders understand that effective communication and collaboration are key. They understand the power of delegation and, consequently, delegate tasks accordingly. They always strive to build strong relationships with team members to ensure a cohesive unit working towards a common goal.
Besides, their skill in sharing a vision, setting an action plan, recognizing team successes, and fostering connection are instrumental to their success. However, level 3 leaders must focus on growing other potential leaders as it’s the only way to reach the next leadership level.
Here’s how you can ascend to leadership level 4:
- Learn and practice servant leadership style.
- Grow your team and help them reach their leadership potential by delegating tasks. Let lower-level employees handle tedious managerial duties so that you can dedicate more of your energy to coaching, teaching, and developing the future leaders in your organization.
- Create a free mentorship program encouraging employees to learn the necessary skills and gain confidence before stepping into a leadership role.
- Listen and offer directions where needed.
- Empower your employees by seeking their input and feedback on important decisions.
- Invest in the development of your team members and empower them to achieve greatness. Outline paths for advancement, lend an ear as they share their hopes and dreams, provide resources that help propel them closer to these aspirations and be a pillar of strength through it all.
- Make the development of your employees a personal goal.
- Embrace the innovations in technology and keep up with the ever-evolving industry trends.
Level 4: The Leader Who Creates Other Leaders
According to John Maxwell, a leader’s success is determined by their capabilities and those of the leaders they develop. Level 4 leaders take this seriously and only hire people with leadership qualities that align with business goals and complement existing team members. Before making an offer, these savvy decision-makers ask themselves whether investing in someone’s leadership development will be worthwhile now and in the future.
Once a job offer has been extended, leadership training begins immediately. This may include meeting with employees every week to discuss different leadership abilities, assigning tasks to build leadership qualities, or granting more responsibility as they become accustomed to their role. However, consistently engaging in this kind of work can be difficult and time-consuming for entrepreneurs and executives with other pressing company matters. As a result, many do not reach their potential as Level 5 leaders.
Here’s how you can ascend to leadership level 5:
- Learn and practice coaching leadership style.
- Be a mentor to all employees.
- Answer the question, “what does it take to be an effective leader?” Understand the dedication you are taking on. Becoming a Level 5 leader is not a quick fix. Rather, it is a journey that takes years of fostering growth in others to create an esteemed reputation as a remarkable leader.
- As a leader, make it your mission to consistently help others grow and reach their full potential. Utilize time management skills to schedule blocks of mentorship so that you can invest in the development of others each day.
- Be willing to recommend capable employees for promotions.
- Develop a motivating factor that boosts your journey towards Level 5 Leadership. Ask yourself questions such as, “What pushes me to create more leaders?” or “How does this impact my business, my life, the lives of those I serve, and the world?”. Gaining an understanding of why developing other leaders is important will help you to progress further.
- Regularly monitor employee growth. Doing so can demonstrate the impact of investing in leadership development and ignite motivation for further progress.
Level 5: The Leader With A Legacy
Level 5 leaders represent the pinnacle of human potential, a legacy created through dedication, growth, and service over many years. As John C Maxwell states in The 5 Laws Of Leadership, “What you do daily becomes your legacy” – something that rings true for any aspiring leader worth their salt!
Every second spent striving towards Level 5 Leadership can be seen as a valuable investment in both one’s self-growth and serving others; it’s what builds legacy over time. Ultimately, when leaders reach their pinnacle, they’re able to view firsthand the positive impact they have made on people around them through their commitment to great leadership, something truly worth celebrating.
At the pinnacle of success, CEOs and founders drive their companies to extraordinary heights. They have achieved a reputation as influential leaders who both mentor others and extend positive influence far beyond what they can physically accomplish themselves. Hence, they set in motion an infinite cycle that will continue after them. Organizations led by these individuals stand out for prosperity, stature, and development.
Now, since you’ve already achieved the highest leadership level, your goal should be to maintain it.
Here’s how to maintain your level 5 leadership status:
- Always strive for more – never settle on your past accomplishments. Keeping a forward-facing vision will help you stay dedicated to innovating and improving, allowing you to excel beyond what’s expected.
- Don’t take Level 5 leadership as the ultimate achievement, but view it as a lifestyle and way of living.
- Broaden your reach by gaining a following of people who consider you an expert leader. Getting involved in events and conferences is just the tip of the iceberg. You can also create content, such as YouTube tutorials or writing industry-focused books. Going further still, consider exploring podcasts for interviews highlighting all aspects of successful leadership – yours included!
- Teach your leaders how to teach and develop other potential leaders as well.
Wrapping Up: Why Should You Become A Level 5 Leader
According to John Maxwell, leadership is not just knowing the way but leading others along it as well. Unfortunately, those unable or unwilling to develop their abilities are like mountaineers setting out for Everest without proper supplies and tools; at best, unprepared for a successful climb.
On the other hand, those who foster a growth mindset have an insatiable appetite for development that equips them with what they need to reach peak success as leaders.
Investing in yourself and other leaders is one of the greatest gifts you can give the world. As a Level 5 Leader, you can create a lasting impact for generations to come and inspire others to reach their full potential. You will become an example proving great leadership can lead to extraordinary success – professionally and personally.
So, why should you become a Level 5 Leader? The answer is simple: the world needs great leaders, and that starts with you. Take up the challenge and strive for your own legacy today.
FAQs
How to Maintain the Status of a Level 5 Leader?
To maintain the status of a level 5 leader, you should always strive for more and never settle for your past accomplishments. You should also broaden your reach by gaining a following of people, getting involved in events and conferences, creating content, and teaching other potential leaders.
Why 5 Levels Of Leadership Is Important?
The 5 levels of leadership are important because it allows aspiring leaders to understand the different components of leadership and how they can use them to become successful. It also provides a framework for assessing one’s own leadership level and guidance on how to reach the highest levels.
Can Level 5 Leadership Be Developed?
Yes, level 5 leadership can be developed. But it takes time and effort. It requires self-discipline and dedication, including the willingness to learn from mistakes and strive for improvement.
