Maxwell, The Five Levels of Leadership

John C. Maxwell, The Five Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential. Center Street, 2011.

Referenced in:

• Leadership Development Through Life Effectiveness
• John Maxwell Library — Inspiring Leadership
• Empowering Leadership

Brief Intro to Maxwell

John Maxwell is perhaps the most widely-read author on leadership and life-effectiveness today. LifeandLeadership.com cross-lists Maxwell’s writings under different categories:

• Inspiring Leadership — Maxwell is a strong leader in his own right, and equips people to exercise leadership that brings out the best in others.
• Leadership and Life-Effectiveness — In a manner similar to many authors in the success genre, Maxwell presents his insights in terms of what it means to lead a more productive life.

Each of his volumes makes a solid contribution to literature on these subjects, but with so many titles, it is often hard to know where to start. The LifeandLeadership.com Ministry Resource Guide on the John Maxwell Leadership Library may help readers understand the unique value of each of his works, and how each relates to the others.

Observations on Five Levels of Leadership

This volume is one of several where Maxwell directly addresses leaders. It is perhaps the most through description of Maxwell’s overall leadership theory or philosophy. Similar titles include Leadership Gold, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and 21 Irrefutable Qualities of a Leader.

From the Publisher

One of the most established authorities on leadership writing today, John C. Maxwell speaks to over 350,000 people each year and his most popular topic is THE 5 LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP, which he now shares with readers.

The five levels include:

1. Position – People follow because they have to.
2. Permission – People follow because they want to.
3. Production – People follow because of what you have done for the organization.
4. People Development – People follow because of what you have done for them personally.
5. Pinnacle – People follow because of who you are and what you represent.

Through in-depth explanations and examples, Maxwell will describe each stage and show readers how they can move to the next level to become more influential, respected, and successful leaders.

About the Author

John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 20 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. Each year he speaks to the leaders of diverse organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, the National Football League, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. His blog can be read at JohnMaxwellOnLeadership.com. He can be followed at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.

See Other John Maxwell Resources:

• John Maxwell Leadership Library, Inspiring Leadership

See Other Resources on Leadership:

• Leadership, Index to Resource Guides

See Other Resources on Leadership Development:

• Leadership Development, Index to Resource Guides

See Resources on Over 100 Ministry Topics:

• Ministry Resource Guide Index