John Maxwell's book "Developing The Leader Within You" gives basic instructions for developing leadership skills. The author believes that leadership skills are not necessarily in-born, but can and should be developed. Maxwell teaches that even natural leaders need to learn appropriate leadership skills in order to maximize their potential.
Leadership is defined as influence or the ability to get followers. Maxwell's favorite leadership proverb is: "He who thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk.".
Everyone influences someone. All of us are leading in some areas, while in other areas we are being led. No one person is excluded from being a leader or a follower. Sociologists tell us that even the most introverted individual will influence ten thousand other people during his or her lifetime. In any situation there is a prominent influencer. This may change with a different group of people or a different situation. For example a mother may be the dominant influencer over a child in the morning. The child may become the influencer of other children once school begins. It's pretty easy to pick out the influencer of any group. If an issue is to be decided, who is the person whose opinion seems most valuable?.
Maxwell describes the levels of leadership:.
Level 1: Position Basic level of leadership. Influence is basically from title or position.
Level 2: Permission This level of influence is the ability to get someone to do something for you when they are not obligated. This level is based on interrelationships. The focus is on people development.
Level 3: Production People are more results oriented. They come together to accomplish goals.
Level 4: People Development This level can be recognized because his/her people consistently demonstrate superior performances.
Level 5: Personhood People follow because of who you are and what you represent. A lifetime of proven leadership allows us to sit at level 5.