Launching A Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five
Levels of Influence (2005)
by Chris Brady & Orrin Woodward
by Chris Brady & Orrin Woodward
Soon or later, we are all called to upon to lead. WHEN that time
comes, WILL you be ready? That's a good question, right? It's not that you
are not going to lead and you don't need to learn how to lead – you will lead
most of the time. You're either a good leader or a bad one. No in-between.
Might as well, learn to lead well, right? This book will make a difference in
your leadership life. Usually, I read on average, 1 book per week, but for this
one, I have to slow down because there are too many profound points, practical
applications, and good quotes and examples. I believe every one of us has great
potential locked away inside us. Leadership is the key! "We have seen people come alive and achieve
things they never thought possible," write the authors, "once they started learning to take
responsibility for leadership. The result, quite frankly, has been
revolutionary."
When I first read the
subtitle Mastering the Five Levels of
Influence, I remember John C. Maxwell's book entitled The 5 Levels of Leadership (2011) which he first introduced in Developing the Leader Within You (first
edition, 1993). Is it similar? In Maxwell's book suggests that there are 5
levels of leadership, given here in ascending power of influence:
#1 Position (RIGHTS)
#2 Permission (RELATIONSHIPS)
#3 Production (RESULTS)
#4 People Development (REPRODUCTION)
#5 Personhood or Pinnacle (RESPECT)
But in Chris Brady and
Orrin Woodward's book, they outline the five levels of influence as such, given
here in ascending ladders:
#1 LEARN: a
leader must be able to learn from anyone
#2 PERFORM:
persevere through failure to find success
#3 LEAD:
extend your abilities by expanding your team
#4 DEVELOP
LEADERS: learn to trust your people
#5 DEVELOP
LEADERS WHO DEVELOP LEADERS: create a legacy
I think the last two #4 and #5 are almost similar. The authors acknowledged Maxwell's works
(Jim Collin also introduce his own five levels of leadership in his
best-selling book Good to Great). But
what makes this book unique is that both authors discussed in details the three
important foundations of leadership namely, #1 What a leader brings (essential qualities such as Hungry,
Hone-able & Honourable); #2 What a leader does (the Cycle of Achievement, namely, Vision > Goal Setting
> Game Planning > Working > Seeking Counsel), and #3 How a leader grow personally (the Trilateral Leadership Ledger,
which consists of, Character x Competency x Relationships) before they explain
about The Five Levels of Influence.
For each level, they share stories of historical leaders who exemplified it.
When I see the ascending order
of The 5 Levels of Influence as shown
in this book, it reminds me of this truth: Leadership is a PROCESS. It is
ongoing and compounding. It doesn't happen overnight, but over time, it happens
in undeniable ways. A student once asked me, "How can I be a good leader?" I replied, "You need to learn now. Read a book. Create a
habit of growth. The best time is 5 years ago, then the next best is today."
The concept of leadership in this book may appear to be daunting but over time,
it will become clearer and make more sense. The leadership journey is not clear
when I first embark upon it, but with experience (oh, this is so important!
especially through failures), growth in influence and gain in knowledge, the
journey becomes clearer. Study this The
Five Levels of Influence one stair at a time, not leaving one to go to one
but build upon it. Be a Learner
(Level 1), be a Performer (Level 2),
be a Leader (Level 3), be a Mentor (Level 4) and aspire to be a Master (Level 5). Is it hard? Yes. Is
it worth it? Absolutely! "Becoming a
leader should not frighten anyone," they conclude, "It should inspire. Leadership is one of the
most rewarding endeavors known to mankind. It is also one of the most
important."
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THINK BIG.
START SMALL. GO DEEP.
