The Leadership Lesson I Wish I Knew Early On: A Reflection Inspired by John C. Maxwell’s "Developing the Leader Within You 2.0"

One of my favorite books by John C. Maxwell is Developing the Leader Within You 2.0. It’s one of those books that should come with a giant highlighter because there’s just so much wisdom packed into its pages. In the book, Maxwell introduces us to the Five Levels of Leadership: Position, Permission, Production, People Development, and Pinnacle. Now, I’m not going to dive into all five levels today (we’d be here a while, and I know you've got things to do), but I do want to focus on one level that I wish I had grasped earlier in my leadership journey.

Now, you might be thinking, “Frank, aren’t all the levels important?” And you’re absolutely right. But let me take you back to my early days as a leader when I was laser-focused on just one thing: Position.

You see, for me, getting the position was the goal. I thought, “If I get the title, I’m the leader! People will automatically follow me and do what I ask because, well, I’m the boss now, right?” I had visions of people hanging onto my every word, eagerly waiting for my next brilliant directive. Spoiler alert: that’s not exactly how it played out.

Sure, people did what I asked—most of the time. But here’s the catch: they weren’t following me; they were following my position. They were doing what I said because I was “the boss,” not because I had earned their respect or trust as their leader.

And here’s where Maxwell’s levels of leadership came in to slap me across the face (in the most loving, metaphorical way, of course). Leadership is not about position alone. It’s about so much more.

The Trap of Position-Based Leadership

Here’s a hard truth: Position is the lowest level of leadership. It’s where your journey begins, but it’s certainly not where it should end. Being in a leadership position gives you authority, but it doesn’t make you a leader. People will follow your orders, sure, but only because they have to. There’s no passion, no genuine loyalty, and certainly no desire to go above and beyond.

It’s like being the substitute teacher who’s just trying to make it through the day without someone setting the fire alarm off. The students may listen (some of them, anyway), but they’re not inspired by you.

I’ll be honest—I fell into this trap. I thought, “I’ve got the title, so I’m in charge.” But after a while, I realized that my team wasn’t truly engaged. They weren’t excited about the work, and honestly, neither was I.

Moving Beyond Position: Building Real Leadership

As Maxwell explains, leadership is about influence, not authority. People follow leaders they trust, respect, and believe in. And that’s where I had to do the hard work—building real connections with my team, gaining their permission to lead them not just because of my position but because they wanted to follow me.

This shift made all the difference. When I started focusing on building relationships, investing in people, and genuinely caring about their development, I saw a transformation. My team started showing up in a whole new way. They weren’t just following orders—they were contributing ideas, taking initiative, and, most importantly, trusting me to guide them.

It turns out leadership is less about giving orders and more about giving support, direction, and encouragement. Who knew, right?

Question for You: Why Are Your People Following You?

So here’s a question for you: Are your people following you because you’re their leader, or because you’re their boss? Think about that for a second. If it’s the latter, don’t worry—you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. The good news is, you don’t have to stay stuck in the “position” mindset.

True leadership comes from connection, trust, and influence—not just a fancy title on your business card.

Let’s Grow Together

If you’re struggling with leadership—whether it’s getting your team to truly follow you, or building a culture of respect and collaboration—I’m here to help. Let’s work together to unlock your full potential as a leader and create a team that’s not just doing what they’re told, but doing what they love.

Leadership is a journey, and I’d love to walk alongside you on that path. Let me know how I can support you, your team, and your organization in reaching new heights.

Let’s make leadership about people, not just positions.