I often coach entrepreneurs, independent professionals and self-employed people who think they don’t need to invest any time developing their leadership ability. (Even though leading ourselves is often described as the most challenging form of leadership!) They thinking is that leadership applies only when you have a team to, um, lead.
But at its core leadership is influence. And we all can benefit from having more influence. Let me share just one example of how I help those independent professionals have more influence (positive impact) within their companies, industries professions, and communities.
Many of you that have worked with me understand my business partner, John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership model (lowest to highest):
- POSITION: (key word: Rights) People follow you because they have to.
- PERMISSION: (key word: Relationship) People follow you because they want to (they like you).
- PRODUCTION: (key word: Results) People follow you because of what you have done for the organization.
- PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: (key word: Reproduction) People follow you because of what you have done for them.
- PINNACLE: (key word: Respect) People follow because of who you are and what you represent.
So for individual professionals let’s transform that list into how you impact (add value to) the people, markets, and community around you. This model matches very well for individual professionals as they participate in BNI groups, work with clients on a daily basis, or go to the market with additional products or services. We can call it ‘The 5 Levels of Influence’:
- Know You: (key word: Available) If they don’t know you, what you do, and a bit about who you are (so they remember you) you won’t be able to help them.
- Like You: (key word: Connect) If they don’t like you, and feel they can trust you, no matter what you say and do they won’t accept it. (They will believe you’re only looking out for your own interests.)
- Give to Them: (key word: Add-value) When people experience you freely ‘giving before you get’ they will understand that you truly care about them and their success and that you can help them.
- Grow Them: (key word: Improve) Here you don’t just give them something (a referral, and idea, etc.) but you help them become better at what they do. You’re investing in them as a person. It’s not simply transactional, it becomes personal.
- Help Anyone: (key word: Reach) Here you have the reputation as a true thought leader and influential leader to many. It’s about who you are and the mindset you represent. Here you are most influential.
If you’d like to have a personal 1-on-1 coffee conversation with me to discuss how you can apply this or similar thinking to your improve your business, you can reach me here.
