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Making the shift from Position to Permission is one of the first real steps of transformation into leadership. People who rely on their positions to move people rarely develop influence with those they are leading.

When a leader learns to function on the Permission level, everything changes. People do more than merely comply with orders – they actually start to follow them. They do so because they want to. WHY? Because of the leaders influence. People will go along with people they get along with.

In Jeffrey Gitmore’s book, The Sales Bible gives us an analogy that describes the importance of relationships

Relationship is more powerful than price

Relationship is more powerful than delivery

Relationship is more powerful than quality

Relationship is more powerful than service

Consider these five upsides to Permission level of leading

Leadership Permission Makes The Work More Enjoyable

Level 2 leading focuses upon from me to we – not the other way around. Permissional leaders like people and want to help them. They desire for others to succeed.

Leadership Permission Increases The Energy Level

What happens when you spend great amounts of time with people you don’t like? The energy level drops! Good relationships on the other hand, increases energy by giving people’s interaction a positive tone. Taking the time to get to know people pays off in greater energy, because desire to go above and beyond.

Leadership Permission Opens Up Channels of Communication

On Level 2, top-down leadership is replaced with side-to-side relationships. Jack Welch former CEO of General Electric describes the ideal leader this way; …somebody who can develop a decision of what they want their business unit, their activity to do and be. Somebody who is able to articulate to the entire unit what the business is and gain through listening and talking, and sharing in discussion an acceptance of the vision.

Said another way, Level 2 leadership listens and operates from a different comprehension position of people’s needs. Consider:

• EARS – I hear what you say
• EYES – I see what you are saying
• HEART – I feel what you are saying
• UNDIVIDED ATTENTION – I value who you are and what you say

Only when we do these things do we ever build positive relationship and persuade people to follow us.

Leadership Permission Focuses On The Value of Each Person

You can care for people without leading them. But you cannot truly lead people without genuine care! In the non-profit context most of the people that enter your doors feel undervalued, insecure, and lost – it is your job to change that.

There is a common thread that runs through business government, education and religion – People need to be valued and respected!

Leadership Permission Nurtures Trust

People who move from Level 1 leadership to Level 2 stop trying to impress others to maintain their position and start developing trust to maintain their relationships.

Trust is the foundation of Permission. If you have integrity with people you develop trust. The more trust that you develop the stronger the relationship becomes. The better the relationship, the greater the potential for the leader to gain permission to lead. It is a building process that takes time, energy and intentionality.

Retired Admiral James Stockdale said, “When the crunch comes, people cling to those who they know and trust – those who are not detached, but involved.”

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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!