Author: Scott McClelland

Some years ago, I came into contact with the idea of 5 Levels of Leadership, I believe through a “cassette tape”… remember those? 🙂 To my knowledge (and memory, haha) it was an audiobook by John Maxwell, entitled, Developing The Leader Within You. Even tho it was years back, I haven’t forgotten it. It has helped my perspective on leadership and influence since that time, and has helped me understand more about how leadership works.

Recently I had an encounter that reminded me of this concept, and discussed it one of our core team members. I pass it on here, in hopes that it will add to your growing perspective and worldview on the subject of influence, authority and leadership.

At the time I initially encountered the 5 Levels of Leadership idea, I have to admit most of the authority I was familiar with (and was operating in) was level 1. Surprisingly, that was no discouragement to me. I was happy to find out that this was a good place to start and that you could only grow (or go up) from there.

A good friend and I have just returned from Nicaragua, where we spent a week visiting and affirming friends and brothers, intending to encourage them of God’s goodness and nearness to them in the midst of difficult time.  This title comes from a song that is sang in Nicaragua, and it is sang there as an expression of affection.  Nicaraguans are proud of their country, heritage and have a hope for good things to come.  Let’s join them in that hope.  As you likely know, violence and bloodshed gripped the country in the Spring of 2018, with much loss and damage reaching on a far scale.  While estimates vary, it seems 500+ were killed, thousands wounded, and several hundred are still unaccounted for.  This is not including those who are currently political prisoners. (To read our post from the time surrounding the eruption of violence in Nicaragua in 2018, click here)

We knew we had to get there to stand and show love to those who are dear to us, and weren’t sure what we would find, and what danger was looming…

What we found, in my opinion, was a country in trauma.