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Level 2 leading is about working to win people’s permission through relationships. How do you do that? There are five areas of discussion in answering this question.

Connect With Yourself Before Trying To Connect With Others

One of the first steps to connecting with others and building relationships is liking yourself. The first person we examine is ourselves – It is that person that is reflected back to us from the mirror. Relationship building starts within first. How aware are you regarding your tendencies and actions; strengths and weaknesses. How aware are you regarding your self-Image? Are you comfortable with how you look, where you are going, what you have achieved? Thomas Jefferson stated once; “In matters of conscience stand like a rock. In matters of fashion, go with the flow!”

Do you realize that the first person to cause a problem is yourself. How aware are you regarding self-honesty? It is very hard to be self-deluded and successful at the same time.

Develop A People Oriented Leadership Style

Permissional leaders don’t rely on rules to lead people. They do not depend on systems. They never attempt to rule with a stick. Instead they use a personal touch whenever they deal with people. They listen, learn, and then lead. They develop relationships! They have more than an open door policy. They realize that the door opens both ways – they go through it and get among the people to connect on a personal level. Herb Kelleher once stated, “Leading an organization is as much about soul as it is about systems. Effective leadership finds its source in understanding.” If you are going to be effective as a Level 2 leader, you must think less about systems and more in term’s of people’s emotions. You must think more in terms of human capacity and less about regulations

Practice The Golden Rule

One of the criticisms of permissional leadership is that it can become manipulative. Yes I will admit that at times people have manipulated others for personal gain – that is always wrong! There is a fine line between manipulation and motivation. The simplicity of the Golden Rule; “Treat others as you want to be treated,” is universally accepted and understood. It establishes a relationship standard that is easy to understand and follow. Practicing the Golden Rule enables everyone to feel respected.

Become The Chief Encourager of Your Team

Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A stated once; “Do you know how I identify someone who needs encouragement? If the person is breathing they need a pat on the back.” Mother Teresa stated, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless.”

Strike A Balance Between Care and Candor

Some people think that success on the Permission level of leadership means treating people on their team like family. Others feel they should give people permission to do whatever they want to do. These two extremes are BIG MISTAKES!

Every person will make mistakes. Every person needs to improve and every person needs someone to come along side of them to help them accomplish their goals. Care without candor creates dysfunctional relationships. Candor without care creates distant relationships!

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