Reading The 5 Levels of Leadership, by John Maxwell, has challenged me to grow as a leader. I have had opportunities to be in leadership positions most of my adult life and I think that I have been stuck in some of the lower levels of leadership. I have seen the position that I held as the “pinnacle” and not the starting place. I have never really asked for permission to lead anyone nor have I earned that permission. I took my position as a leader to be the authority that allowed me to be the leader.

After reading the first few chapters of this book, I realized how wrong I have been!! I recognized that I needed to move from being a positional leader to becoming a people developing leader. These thoughts are becoming transforming. I am a counselor/coach. I cannot think that my position will carry any authority with others. It has to become about the value that I add to others because of who they are…not because of who I am. Even writing this is truly transformational.

The passage of scripture that kept coming to my mind as I was reading the book is:

Matthew 20:25-28 (NASB95)  25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

I  don’t think that I have ever “lorded” over anyone. But I do think that I have lost the idea of truly serving others. I think that God is teaching me that I have to be a servant in order to truly lead others.

Some of the questions that I am asking about my relationships are:

• Do I love this person? Loving someone is about looking beyond the outward appearance and looking at the person as God looks at them. For me to love my clients, I must be able to empathize with them and show them compassion. I must be able to see the potential of what God can do in their lives.
• Do I see the value in this person? Along with loving the client, I have to be able to see their God-given value. Everyone is created by God to have a purpose in His Kingdom. As a coach, I need to be able to see that value, express it, and help the client visualize it as well.
• How can I add to that value? The value that I add to a client has to line up with his God-given purpose. Does my talent or skill add to the person? Do I possess what the individual needs? The value that I add to the client should help him to accomplish the plans that God has for him.

Answering these questions will help me become a better coach and leader. I am thankful that God uses authors such as John Maxwell to challenge me in my walk with Him as well as in my profession.

Have you read this book? I would like to know what you think about it.