Words of Wisdom From a Few Old Friends

   A Person Worth Following

   From time to time I like to go my bookshelf and find an old friend. I like to pick up a book and reflect upon what impacted me in the moment, when when I first read it. I then like to reflect upon how it may

have planted a seed that is a part of who I am today. This art of reflection can bring new insights and shed light on where I've been and where I'm going. With that in mind, this morning I'm just reflecting on some words of wisdom from a few old friends.

   Years ago I read Maxwell's Developing The Leader Within You (1993). In it, he defines leadership

as simply, influence. Leadership is having the influence and the ability to obtain followers. He also outlined Five Levels of Leadership, which, to this day, still have a profound impact on me. I
often reflect upon these Five Levels of Leadership because I believe we, as leaders, can increase our influence and leadership potential by doing so.

   Here are the five levels in a nutshell. The lowest level, the entry level of leadership, is Level 1: Position. According to Maxwell, Positional Leaders may be bosses, but they are never leaders. They rely on rules, regulations, policies, and organization charts to control their people. Their people will only follow them within the stated boundaries of their authority.
Maxwell identifies Level 2 leaders as Permission, which is a person’s first real step into leadership. In this level, people actually start to follow the leader because the leader begins to influence people with relationship, not just position. They begin to work together with their leader and each others because they feel liked, cared for, included, valued, and trusted. Next comes Level 3: Production. Production leaders are leaders that make things happen

and get results because they are able to help their team produce. They are able to put their organizational and leaderships skills to use to achieve goals. Level 4 leaders are People Developers. Maxwell asserts that to have superb organizations and reach the upper echelons of leadership, leaders must transition from producers to developers. That is because an organization’s most valuable asset
is it's people. Good leaders on Level 4 invest their time, energy, money, and thinking into growing others as leaders. Finally Level 5 is The Pinnacle or Personhood. People follow them for who they are
and for what they represent. The individuals who reach Level 5 lead so well for so long that they create a legacy of leadership in the organization they serve.

   I am fortunate to have been mentored by a Level 5 Personhood leader who has profoundly impacted

me as a leader. This individual is a servant leader who known for his character, integrity, and excellent communication and people skills. Oftentimes when I am faced with a decision, I ask myself what this
individual would do if he were in my shoes. I have also been greatly influenced by a Positional leader who, in reality, was not a leaderat all. This individual had a position and authority, but operated
solely out of power and control. I have found that some of life's lessons are like that. Some are glaring examples of what TO do and what TO be and others, painfully so, are glaring examples of what NOT
to do and what NOT to be. Lesson learned!

   Andy Stanley, in The Next Generational Leader (2003) - another old friend - poses a sobering

and challenging thought for me as I continue to grow as a leader. "Your talent and giftedness as a leader have the potential to take you farther than your character can sustain you. That ought to
scare you." Stanley goes on to explain what I believe is a key for me and for any emerging leader who aspires to develop into that Personhood Leader. He states, "To become a leader worth following, you must give time and attention to the inner man. To leave a legacy that goes beyond accomplishment alone, a leader must devote himself to matters of the heart." Hmmm. Reminds me of that Maxwellism, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

   This morning I'm just reflecting on some words of wisdom from a few old friends. As I continue to

reflect upon the jobs, roles, and positions I've held over the years, I can see myself in various stages of leadership. As a servant leader, my goal is ultimately to move toward being a Level 5 Personhood leader, where hopefully people would follow me because of who I am and what I represent. As my friend, Andy, says 'a person worth following'.