When I was a young salesman just beginning my career, I eagerly anticipated my first promotion, which yielded a leadership role. I knew a lot about leadership, or so I thought, and I was eager to show what I could do.
But it turns out I had a lot to learn about leadership! My young self didn’t know nearly as much about leadership as I thought I did! Mistakes I made early on made it clear that I needed to learn how to lead. So, over the years, I spent countless hours with mentors, reading books, and attending training conferences to build my leadership skillsets.
As I matured in my career, the scope of my leadership responsibilities widened—every assignment I had brought new leadership challenges. I realized, in this way, real leadership was an ever-evolving skill requiring a consistent, ongoing commitment.
Now, on the backside of my career, I’m trying to give back to younger folks, hoping to give them a head start on their leadership journey and hopefully avoid some of the stupid mistakes I made!
So, there was a beginning stage when I thought I knew it all but knew little about leadership. Then there was the middle stage when I kept building my leadership muscles. And now, finally, a third stage. I am still learning, but I am also giving back what I’ve learned to those behind me on the leadership journey.
Seasons of A Leader’s Life
It turns out I’m not the only one who views their leadership journey in three stages. Author, Jeff Iorg, wrote a book titled “Seasons of A Leader’s Life,” in which Jeff identifies three distinct phases or stages of a leader’s journey. He named the three stages “Emerging Leaders,” “Active Leaders,” and “Maturing Leaders.” Jeff’s book caught my attention because he used the apostle Peter as an example of each of the three stages.
1. Emerging Leaders Learn
Jeff describes younger, emerging leaders, saying,
“Younger leaders start out full of passion, idealistic, and excited about the future. For the most part, young leaders don’t know what they don’t know. However, their enthusiasm is contagious. The best leaders will devote themselves to learning and study during this phase of leadership.”
Passion, idealism, and excitement certainly describe Peter in his early years. Peter didn’t know what he didn’t know, but Jesus patiently taught Peter what it meant to be a disciple. Peter followed Jesus around the countryside for nearly the entire time of Jesus’ public ministry, learning what it meant to be a committed, spiritually disciplined follower of Christ.
2. Active Leaders Lead
As young leaders mature and gain experience, they move into the phase of leadership Jeff describes as active leaders.
“At some point, the primacy of the learning phase gives way to the reality of the leading phase. It’s not that learning ends, but learning has to be translated into actual leadership. This season can be thought of as the bulk of a leader’s work or ministry. These are the prime years of leadership.”
Following Jesus’ death on the cross, Peter took on the responsibility of leading the early church. The book of Acts recounts numerous examples of Peter’s leadership of the disciples during this difficult time. Peter’s leadership is seen in his devotion to fulfilling his primary mission of building the church by calling people to Christ and confronting sinful behavior among the early followers.
3. Maturing Leaders Leave a Legacy
In the third stage of leadership, the mature leader is focused on what they leave behind as a legacy. Jeff describes the maturing leader this way,
“For most of us, the loss of stamina alone forces us to face the reality that the final stage—the time to leave our legacy—is dawning. This is the stage of leadership when a leader begins to envision a time when he or she will no longer lead, and the best leaders try to envision how to leave their organization healthy.”
Turning again to Peter, we see halfway through the book of Acts that Peter begins to step into the background as Paul begins to rise, taking on the young church’s leadership mantle. In his own letters to the church (1 & 2 Peter), Peter passes on wisdom gained from his life in ministry. He focuses on what is most important in the lives of believers, reminding them to take the Word of God seriously, follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, and prepare for opposition from false teachers.
Stages of Leadership
Every leader who spends their life leading organizations will eventually experience all three stages. We begin as young, emerging leaders learning what it means to lead. Then, with experience, we move into the role of active leader for most of our careers. Finally, we become the mature leader, seeking to leave a legacy for the next generation of leaders.
Recognizing which stage you’re in as a leader is critical because it allows you to think strategically about how you want to lead in this stage and how to prepare for the next.
Are you an emerging leader who is passionate, idealistic, and excited to lead? Then learn all you can about leading an organization, read books, attend seminars, and seek learned mentors. Then, do everything you can to build your leadership skills.
Are you an active leader in your leadership journey? Keep learning. Keep building your leadership skillsets. Become the most effective, disciplined leader you can be.
Are you a mature leader nearing the end of your time as a leader? If so, find ways to speak into the lives of younger leaders, passing on the wisdom you’ve gained over a lifetime of leadership experience.
Regardless of which of the stages of leadership you find yourself in, know that in every stage, you can be the powerful, inspired leader God intends you to be!
More Articles on Leadership Development
I’ve written numerous other articles on leadership development. You can search for “leadership development” in the search bar to read them. Here are a few of my most recent favorites:
- #486: Every Effective Leader Has A 4-Part Plan for This!
- #366: Is Mentoring a Biblical Approach to Leadership Development?
- #339: Do You Know Why Most Businesses Ultimately Fail?
- #301: The Man Who Went from Insecure Doubter to Powerful Leader
- #295: What to Do When Your Boss Is All Hat and No Cattle
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Which of the stages of leadership are you in right now? Are you thinking strategically about how you want to lead in this stage?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Skills | Leadership Development
I recognize these leadership steps in my career, from becoming a new police chief and ten years later a mature police chief. I read a lot of books early on to hone my abilities. And near the end I spent a lot of time mentoring my Lieutenants, one of whom became my successor. And he’s done well, which I’m proud of.
I’m not at all suprised, John, that you were a lifelong learner and a mentor developing the next generation. I only wish more leaders recognized the importance of those two traits in their careers!