Archive for personal growth
Level Up, Week 4: Permission
Posted by: | CommentsWelcome to Week 4 of our group study of The 5 Levels of Leadership! This week we’ll be diving into Level 2: Permission.
Are you naturally people-oriented or task-oriented? You’ll discover that everyone in your group naturally defaults to one or the other. They’ll assign the highest value to either getting things done or building relationships.
Those who are people-oriented will wonder why you’re even discussing this level, because it will seem as natural to them as breathing. Most of what’s described in the chapter they do intuitively. (Their difficulty will likely come at Level 3.)
The task-oriented people may see permission as “soft.” They may even think that the 5 levels were listed in the wrong order, and production should come ahead of permission. Your goal is to get everyone on the same page, understanding that if you build relationships first, it makes production easier and helps you develop teamwork. If leaders do that, then when pressure comes, fewer things blow up because they already know everyone’s personalities and how they work together.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Level 3: Production, pages 131-178
(We will discuss this reading assignment in NEXT WEEK’S post.
DISCUSSION (Facilitator’s Guide):
1. (Icebreaker) If you were given a free day totally for yourself, how would you spend it?
2. What’s the difference between leadership that asks permission to lead and leadership that assumes the right to lead?
3. What is most frustrating to you about working with people? What’s most rewarding?
4. Are you naturally task-oriented or people-oriented? How do you think that impacts your attitude toward Level 2 Permission?
5. The book says that permission leadership appears too soft for some people. Where do you stand on this?
6. Why do you think I say that openness is required for permission leadership to be effective? Do you find it difficult or easy to be open with the people you lead?
7. In the past, how have you handled the care and candor issue? Which do you find to be naturally easier? Expressing candor or caring?
8. What things can a leader do to gain permission from followers?
9. What do you need to change to make your leadership more personal and relational with the people you influence?
ASSIGNMENT:
Take time in the next week to get to know each individual that you lead more personally. Or course, you need to respect people’s privacy and be appropriate. But your goal is to get a better sense of who the person is, what is important to him/her, and what motivates him/her.
NOTE:
For the sake of simplicity, we have not threaded the comments this week. Please feel free to start your own comment thread. You can answer as many of the 9 questions as you wish, either in one or separate comments.
Level Up, Week 3: Position
Posted by: | CommentsWelcome to Week 3 of our group study of The 5 Levels of Leadership! This week we are studying Level 1: Position. The thing about position is, those who don’t have one, think that’s what they need to lead. But those who do have a position understand how little power it actually gives them in the long run. When you have no leadership experience, position seems like the only way to lead. True, it does often provide opportunity. But if a leader doesn’t grow in the levels of leadership, then position becomes a limitation.
As you facilitate discussion, keep in mind the various points of view that might be present in your group. Some might have never led. Some might have had a position that resulted in a bad leadership experience. Others might be in a new position and see it as an opportunity. Still others might have been leading at Level 1 for a long time, and be unaware of its limitations. Your goal is to help every member of the group see the possibilities of growing in leadership beyond position.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Level 2: Position, pages 83-129
(We will discuss this reading assignment in NEXT WEEK’S post.)
DISCUSSION (Facilitator’s Guide):
1. (Icebreaker) What was your favorite game as a child (excluding sports and video games)? Examples include: board games, card games, playground games, and party games. Why did you enjoy that game so much? What type of game did you least like to play and why?
2. Think about your first leadership position. At the time did you see it more as opportunity or obligation? How did it turn out?
3. Why do you think the book says that turnover is high for positional leaders?
4. What does it mean for you when the book says, “Leave your position and move toward your people”? Why is that important?
5. Can you think of an example of an excellent leader you’ve worked with who never used position to lead? Talk about that person. What made him or her excellent?
6. Up to now, how much have you relied on position for leadership in your career?
7. What would you need to change to lead without using your position?
ASSIGNMENT:
This week’s assignment has two parts. First, identify a leadership model to learn from. Make a list of leaders who model the kind leadership that you aspire to. Study that person, writing down the characteristics that make them a good leader. If a biography has been written about them, read it and take notes. If not, find out what you can about them through news and online resources. Studying a model is a great way to start growing as a leader.
The second part is to find a leadership coach, which I also suggest on page 80 of The 5 Levels of Leadership. This week, think about leaders you know and admire who are two or more career steps ahead of you in leadership. Try to get one of them to agree to sit down with you once every month or two and answer leadership questions.
REMINDER:
In the comments section, the questions are threaded so you can answer each individually if you’d like. (This makes it easier for others to find them and contribute to the discussion.) But please feel free to answer all questions in one comment if that serves you better.
Level up, Week 2: Where do you go from here?
Posted by: | CommentsWelcome to Week 2 of our group study of The 5 Levels of Leadership! Last week, we hit the ground running, with a challenging assignment to read the introduction and complete the leadership assessment in just seven days. In this week’s meeting, your goal as leader is to learn where every member of the group is in their leadership journey.
We are aware that some groups will consist of people who actively pursue leadership and personal growth. This study won’t be alien to them. On the other hand, some groups or group members may be making their first foray into leadership development. As a leader, please take those factors into account.
Also, you may find that some in your group are very self-aware, while others are not. Today’s discussion questions have been written with everyone in mind, so give yourself the freedom to depart from them and go down any productive path that presents itself. At the end of your discussion, you should have a better idea of members’ understanding of the basics of leadership, their openness in the group, and how willing they are to change and grow.
Before you meet, I’d encourage you to personally do the reflection and journaling assignment below. Then you’ll be able to share what it was like and what your group members can expect.
If you’re in MY group (not in any group in real life), answer all of the questions below for yourself. (You can share answers in the comments if desired.)
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Level 1: Position, pages 37-81
(We will discuss this reading assignment in NEXT WEEK’S post.)
DISCUSSION (Facilitator’s Guide):
1. (Icebreaker) When you go on vacation, are you a meticulous planner or a seat-of-your-pants explorer? Tell about a memorable vacation that came about as a result of your travel style.
2. To describe leadership, the book uses 5 levels. In the past, what mental picture have you used to describe or understand leadership?
3. Why do you think the 5 levels are in the order that they’re in? Would you have put them in that order? If not, why?
4. Why do you think it says that you’re not on the same level with every person?
5. What surprises did you find in the results of your leadership assessment? Do you think others’ assessment of you accurately reflects where you are in leadership? (If you haven’t yet completed the four-part assessment, you need to do so before your next meeting.)
6. What level are you on with most people according to the assessment? Where would you like to be?
7. Up until now, has your leadership development been planned, or have you simply tried to learn as you go?
8. How open are you to changing your leadership style to become more effective and influential in your life? What are you willing to do? What are you willing to give up?
ASSIGNMENT:
Take some time this week remove yourself from distractions and interruptions to reflect on where you are as a leader. Set aside at least an hour for this. Be sure to write in a journal about the current state of your personal influence, career, and life legacy. Are you where you would like to be? Reflect on how growing in leadership using the 5 Levels could positively impact those three areas.
You will not be expected to share this with your group. It’s for you alone to gain perspective and spend some time in self-examination.
In this information age, people tend to spend too little time truly alone, quietly reflecting without any distractions. No matter what you write in your journal, this exercise will yield positive results for your leadership development.
NOTE:
In the comments section, the questions are threaded so you can answer each individually if you’d like. (This makes it easier for others to find them and contribute to the discussion.) But please feel free to answer all questions in one comment if that serves you better.
Level up, Week 1: Finding your starting point
Posted by: | CommentsWelcome to Week 1 of our group study of The 5 Levels of Leadership! I’m excited to join you in this journey! Each week, we’ll tackle a section of the book, with insights, discussion questions, and an assignment. If you’re leading a group, you can use the section labeled “Facilitator’s Guide” to lead group discussion. We’ll also use the comments section to create group discussion right here on the blog.
If you’re a group leader, remember that your primary responsibility is to put people at ease so that they will participate freely in all discussions. To do that, you need to focus not on being interesting, but on being interested – in each person’s background, opinions, and goals. Plan to speak no more than 20% of the time. Ask a question and truly listen to responses. This is not a time for giving advice or challenging people’s answers. Instead, you and other group members can ask follow-up questions for clarity or deeper insight. This week’s focus is on helping group members get to know one another better.
If you’re not in any kind of “real life” group, I strongly encourage you to find at least one other person to learn along with you. It will multiply this study’s effectiveness for you both. However, if you end up doing this study alone, then you can consider this blog your group. Commenting and reading the comments of others will still give you insight and encouragement.
For this week, we have a lot of work to do in only seven days. Besides reading the introduction (which I encourage you to do early in the week), you and every member of your group need to complete the four-part assessment to determine where you are currently as a leader.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
You Can Have a Leadership Game Plan for Your Life, pages 1-20
Leadership Assessment, pages 21-36
(We will discuss this reading assignment in NEXT WEEK’S post.)
DISCUSSION (Facilitator’s Guide):
1. (Icebreaker) Share with the group your name, your favorite hobby, and the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten.
2. Why did you agree to engage in this study?
3. In what area of life do you most greatly desire the ability to develop influence with people?
4. What do you see as your greatest obstacle in leadership?
ASSIGNMENT:
Do the leadership assessment on pages 21-36***.
This will require intentionality and follow-through if it’s to be completed in a week. But it’s EXTREMELY important to know your starting point. If you’re tempted to skip the assessment because of all the steps, you’re greatly undermining your growth in leadership through the study.
The assessment consists of four parts:
- Assess your own leadership characteristics.
- Determine how you lead specific followers. (If you don’t currently lead anyone, assess your influence with specific friends, colleagues or family members.)
- Ask those same followers (or people you influence) to measure your leadership.
- Tally results.
***If you don’t have a hard copy of the book or would just prefer to print out assessments, The John Maxwell Company has provided a pdf of the assessment HERE that you can download and print. Please do not distribute, and print and use only what you need to do the assignment.
Who will you grow with in the study of The 5 Levels?
Posted by: | CommentsHappy New Year! I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to launch into 2012 with enthusiasm!
To set the tone for the new year and help you start growing right away, we’ll be launching our group study of The 5 Levels of Leadership here on the blog. Every week through February, we’ll learn together and discuss in the comments. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to grow along with other like-minded people. This interaction will take your learning to a new level.
I want to invite you to take the initiative and bring together a group to study The 5 Levels. If you’re not sure who to gather, start by taking a look at yourself to determine where you are in the leadership development process.
Established Leader. Maybe you’re the point leader for your organization, or perhaps you lead a large department. For your group, I suggest gathering aspiring leaders. This gives you the opportunity to invest in them and impact your organization together.
Emerging Leader. Are you in a position of leadership, but still very much trying to find your way? Gather other leaders similar to yourself. Together you can challenge and encourage each other to move up the levels of leadership.
Aspiring Leader. You’re not in a position of leadership, but you’d like to be. Gather other aspiring leaders. By participating in the group study, you’ll be preparing yourselves for the opportunity to lead when it presents itself.
Person of Influence. Maybe you’re not in a position of leadership and don’t foresee ever being in one (eg: a retiree or stay-at-home mom). But you know the value of influence in your home or community. Gather others like yourself; together you can learn to apply The 5 Levels to your personal influence with those around you.
Once you’ve gathered your group, set the date for your first meeting. We’ll officially start the study next week, with our first group discussion occurring on January 16.
Please leave me a comment if you’re planning to participate. And if you are leading a group, include the number of participants in your comment. It will be wonderful to know who is partnering with me in moving themselves or others up the levels of leadership.
