Leading So Others Will Follow

“Leadership”.  There can be a lot of talk about “leadership”.  But, can we really define it?  Do we know it when we see it, or experience it?  Sometimes, people pause before answering these questions.  But, if I asked you “what is poor leadership” and “would we know it when we see it, or experience it”….most people would be able to respond right away.  And, most people would be able to list numerous examples.  Sad, isn't it? To be a leader, you have to have followers.  If you can’t get people to follow you and be truly committed to you, then you really aren't leading.  If you lead and no one follows, you are just taking a walk!

John Maxwell posits five levels of leadership:  position, permission, production, people, and pinnacle. The lowest rung is position.  People follow you because they have to.  This person has a title.  The next is permission.  People follow you because they want to.  They've decided you may have something to offer, or you might know what you are doing, but they aren't truly committed to you yet.  The third level is production.  People follow you based on what you've done for the organization.  You can get results.  But, again…..not a level of true commitment.   If another person comes along who can produce as you can, suddenly people turn into lemmings.  Maxwell’s fourth level is people.   At this stage, people follow you because of what you've done for them.  This is when we see commitment.   People at this stage will follow you…whether it is to a new mission, a new direction for the company, or to another job at a different company.  The fifth level is pinnacle.  At this level, people follow you for who you are and what you represent.  They see beyond the data and realize you are a person who can be trusted and has authentic intent.

To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.

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