T H E F I V E L E V E L S O F L E A D E R S H I P

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY: THOSE WHO PRODUCE RESULTS AND THOSE WHO GIVE YOU REASONS WHY THEY DIDN’T. — PETER DRUCKER

The importance of developing good relationships cannot be overemphasized. However, relationships without results will not bring success. Even among the best, your leadership will eventually hit a ceiling if you do not also accomplish your goals. In short, get the job done and get it done well.

All great leaders are productive. However, it is possible to be productive and not a leader. Personal success doesn’t always translate into team success. Leadership is defined by what a person does with, and for, others. For example, you might be a high producer in sales, but not a leader. Or you might be the best teacher in the school, but not a leader. It’s a great thing to use your talent for the good of the organization as an individual contributor, but a leader uses his or her influence for the larger good of the organization.

When you are working in your area of giftedness you do more than get things done, you have the potential to make things happen. And when you make things happen in alignment with the vision of the organization, your productivity is of maximized value.

The place to begin is to know how your personal giftedness contributes to the vision of your organization. It’s great that you can get things done, but can you make things happen? There is quite a difference between the two. Good leaders make things happen.

Productive leaders are not prone to deliver excuses. It’s not in their nature. They fight for creative solutions and fresh innovative ways to get things done even under pressure. Productive leaders have a “whatever it takes” mentality. They just don’t give up.

LEVEL THREE — PRODUCTION

B Y J O H N C . M A X W E L L

LEADERSHIP COACHINGThe Maxwell Leadership Center

Take turns reading aloud the following paragraphs. As you read, underline the ideas that capture your attention.

LEVEL THREE 1

THE FIVE LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP | LEVEL THREE — PRODUCTION

BENEFITS

If you seek to learn and develop Level 3 leadership you will experience these benefits:

1. Your productivity will increase. This is stating the obvious, but it matters! It’s like putting money in the bank. The results increase and are measurable.

2. Your credibility rises. You are not just talk, and more than mere action, you make things happen. That changes how people see you.

3. People’s respect for you grows. You already treat people well, (Level 2), and when you sustain increased productivity and credibility, people begin to respect you.

4. Your influence increases. This is the bottom line outcome, and you are therefore able to add value to more people’s lives.

CHARACTERISTICS

Good leaders who grow and improve in Level 3 leadership demonstrate certain characteristics:

1. They solve problems. Nearly anyone can spot problems, good leaders identify solutions and successfully implement them.

2. They think creatively. Good leaders think out of the box and connect unrelated thoughts and experiences to produce new ideas. They then translate those ideas into action.

3. They connect their actions to the vision. Leaders with the greatest impact always stay aligned with the vision of the organization.

4. They are self-disciplined. It’s easy to get distracted, especially under the tyranny of the urgent. It takes determination to stay focused and get the job done.

5. They are competent. Good leaders are highly skilled at what they do and continuously strive to improve their skills and ability.

LEADERSHIP COACHINGThe Maxwell Leadership Center

Productive leaders do not settle for the comfort zone. It’s easy for anyone to justify how hard they are working, and let’s give the benefit of the doubt and say they are working hard. That doesn’t mean they are producing great results. Good leaders don’t relax and coast after a little success. They keep producing!

Perfection is not the goal, progress is! Even highly effective leaders make mistakes and miss the ball once in awhile. Life happens! The idea is to get back up and keep going. Progress is the mantra of a leader who consistently produces results.

When you become successful as a productive leader, it’s important that you do not allow your productivity to override caring. Remember Level 2 Leadership. Don’t let your success allow you to justify treating people as less important, or only as tools to help you be more effective. In fact, this is when you should pour more into your team. (That is the theme of Level 4.)

As you read, continue to underline the ideas that capture your attention.

LEVEL THREE 2

STEPS TO FOLLOW

1. Focus on results not activity. All leaders are busy. It’s important that you get your priorities accomplished. Focus on the things that matter.

2. Keep getting better at your craft. Don’t coast on your current talent. Keep learning and improving!

3. Make a list of all the problems you need to solve. Rank them in order of importance. Always start with the top priority. Stay on it until it is solved.

4. Be willing and able to make tough decisions. This will separate you from the pack. Most leaders know what to do, but don’t have the courage to do it. Dig in and find the courage to make the tough call at the right time.

5. Always continue to work on good relationships. This is so important that it bears repeating. No matter how much you accomplish, no matter how successful you are, always treat people with kindness, respect, dignity and honor.

Choose something you underlined from any of the above material that is important to you. Take a minute to tell everyone what you chose and why it was important to you.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

Choose one of the questions below and share a brief answer with your group.

1. What keeps you motivated to produce results?

2. Briefly describe the last problem you solved.

3. How do you know if your results are in line with the vision of your organization? How is this confirmed by others?

EVALUATION AND ACTIONRate yourself compared to the Level 3 leadership principles in this week’s content.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

LEADERSHIP COACHINGThe Maxwell Leadership Center

The Five Levels of Leadership © 2011 John C. Maxwell and is used with permission.

THE FIVE LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP | LEVEL THREE — PRODUCTION

Why did you give yourself this rating?

Who do you know that demonstrates the characteristics of a good Level 3 leader? What do you admire about them?

What specific action can you take immediately that will improve your rating?

What did you do this past week to work on what you learned in the previous roundtable?

Take a minute to share your responses to the self-evaluation section, including the step you will take to improve.

LEVEL THREE 3