Leading Beyond the Title: What I Learned at Every Level

Leading Beyond the Title: What I Learned at Every Level

Lessons from John C. Maxwell and My Own Leadership Journey

“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” — John C. Maxwell.

Leadership isn’t a destination—it’s a journey of personal growth and empowerment.

When I first transitioned from being a corporate executive into running my own coaching business, I thought I had leadership figured out. After all, I had led teams, hit goals, and managed departments for decades.

But what I quickly discovered was this:

Leading in business is very different from managing in a system.

Influence becomes more personal. Trust matters more. And people don’t just follow roles—they follow people they believe in.

That’s when I had to apply one of the most important leadership frameworks I’ve ever used, both personally and with my clients:

John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership

This transformative framework helped me identify where I was as a leader, where I was stuck, and how to level up—not just for myself, but for the leaders I coach every day.

Let’s walk through the 5 levels—and I’ll share real moments from my own journey along the way.

Level 1: Position

“People follow you because they have to.”

This is where all leadership begins. It’s based on title, role, or authority. You’re the manager. The founder. The head of the department.

When I first became a department head in the corporate world, I thought I had “made it.” But I soon realized that people didn’t follow my title—they followed how I treated them.

Without relationship, my instructions felt like pressure.

And when people followed only because they had to, the results were minimal.

Level 1 is necessary—but not sufficient.

Level 2: Permission

“People follow you because they want to.”

This is the level of connection and trust.

You invest in people. You listen. You lead with empathy.

When I joined BNI in 2017, I was starting over as a business owner. I had no team, no authority—and yet I needed to lead.

BNI taught me this level through experience. I learned to build relationships first, earning trust before attempting to influence.

People didn’t follow me because I had a title.

They followed because we had a connection.

This shift was humbling and transformational.

Level 3: Production

“People follow you because of what you have done for the organization.”

At this level, you gain credibility because of results. You make things happen. You help others succeed.

As I started coaching SMEs, I realized that producing results wasn’t about doing it all myself—it was about helping my clients succeed.

The more they grew, the more my influence grew.

This is where leaders move from relational to transformational.

People see you as someone who brings value, not just personality.

It’s also the level where many teams start to feel momentum.

Level 4: People Development

“People follow you because of what you have done for them.”

This is one of my favorite levels, because it’s where leadership becomes reproduction.

When I became a Managing Director in BNI, I shifted from growing my own business to helping others grow theirs.

I wasn’t just coaching anymore—I was developing leaders within BNI Chapters and beyond.

I invested time in people, helping them find their own voice, training them to lead, and celebrating their growth.

This is where leadership expands beyond you.

And honestly? It’s one of the most rewarding stages of my journey.

Level 5: Pinnacle

“People follow you because of who you are and what you represent.”

This is legacy-level leadership.

It’s rare. It takes time, intentionality, and consistency.

You don’t just have influence—you’ve become a model of leadership.

People look up to you not because of what you do, but because of who you’ve become.

For me, this is not about pride.

It’s about responsibility. I’m still growing. Still learning. Still striving to reflect values, integrity, and vision in all that I do.

So, Where Are You in the 5 Levels?

Here’s the powerful truth:

One way to do this is to reflect on your recent leadership interactions and ask yourself where you felt most effective and where you could have done better. This can provide a good indication of your current leadership level with different individuals or groups.

With some people, you’re at Level 2, building trust.

With others, you’re at Level 4, developing their potential.

And with a few, maybe you’ve reached Level 5—you’ve earned profound, lasting influence.

The key is to grow with a focused and determined intentionality.

Final Thought: Leadership is a Climb, Not a Claim

You don’t get to claim leadership.

You earn it—one relationship, one result, one investment at a time.

“Everything rises and falls on leadership.” — John Maxwell

So ask yourself today:

• Where am I strongest as a leader?
• Where do I need to level up?
• Who am I helping grow?

Because the more you develop others, the more you grow yourself.

Want to Know What Level You’re Leading From?

I offer Maxwell-based coaching and DISC tools to help you assess your leadership level and create a personalized growth plan.  Book a FREE Discovery Call.