The 5 Levels of Leadership Framework
This post is part of a series that explains frameworks & theories in a concise and clear manner
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” - John Maxwell
The 5 Levels of Leadership is a framework for leadership in almost any situation;
Why
The first day on the job as a leader doesn't make you a leader. It may say so on your business card, but people won't follow you through the gates of hell, heck they may even start packing their bags at 4.45 PM. The 5 Levels of Leadership explain how you can become a better leader and in effect make better leaders out of the people who follow you. It's a lifelong journey, one that I most highly recommend you take.
5 Levels of Leadership
- Positional Leadership - Rights: people follow you because they have to!
- Relationship Leadership - Permission: people follow you because they want to!
- Productive Leadership - Results: people follow you because you give the right example!
- People Development Leadership - Reproduction: people follow you because you are developing them!
- Pinnacle Leadership - Respect: people follow you because they respect you!
Now lets see how the levels of leadership can apply to you as a brand-new leader of a group of about 12 people during a week long event.
1) Positional Leadership
You're assigned leader of a group. Congratulations, this is the first step to becoming a leader. During the opening ceremony you've met the members of your group and they are being told that they have to follow you. But what if they discover that no-one will check if they switch groups, what keeps them from leaving your group? Actually nothing, without a relationship between you and the people you lead, they will only follow you until a new opportunity arises.
2) Relationship Leadership
The second level of leadership is relationship building. This can be done by 1) listening well, 2) observing your group, and 3) learning on the go. This level has also been called servant leadership, you serve the group and build connections. People will follow you because they want to. Your group now has become fun, maybe cozy (or as we Dutch like to call it 'gezellig'), but you are not yet productive.
3) Productive Leadership
To become productive you have to give the right example. If you start by disregarding the program, showing up late in the morning or drinking excessively, your group will get nowhere. Leadership expert John Maxwell said "We attract who we are, not who we want", I think this applies not only to people, but also to their behaviour. If there are challenges, group assignments or other things that require teamwork, a level 3 leader (and his or her team) will be the ones to win it.
4) People Development Leadership
A week is very short time to develop people. It's too short to show people how to do the work/study/etc. But it's long enough to help them become good social people. If you take an effort in learning their names, explain to them the benefits of remembering the names of others. If you are respectful about differences, show them how they can copy that behaviour. At this level people follow you because you are developing them.
5) Pinnacle Leadership
The final level of leadership is something that is developed over a long time. This is a level that can be obtained by developing people, being productive and having great relationships over a long period of time. The organizer of the week long event may be very well the only one who reaches this level. At this level your track record speaks for itself and people follow you because they respect you.
When to Use
Use this framework right now! Think about what level leader you are right now. Is this different at home than at work? And how can you advance your level, what do you need to improve on to become a better leader? Good luck!
“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” - John Maxwell
More on the The 5 Levels of Leadership:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPwXeg8ThWI - Youtube video about The 5 Levels of Leadership
2. https://www.iequip.org/ - Official website of John Maxwell's leadership institute
3. https://floriswolswijk.com/5-levels-leadership/ - My previous blogpost about The 5 Levels of Leadership