How a Common Leadership Language Boosts Engagement and Influence
Every growing business eventually faces this challenge: teams and leaders work in silos, communication becomes fragmented, and the company mission starts getting lost in translation. One root cause? A lack of shared language around leadership. In this blog, we’ll explore how building a leadership culture with a common language transforms not only how teams communicate but also drives engagement, influence, and business results. This is a core insight from The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, featuring leadership expert Chris Goede of Maxwell Leadership.
Want to dive deeper? Learn more about influencing beyond titles.
Why Your Organization Needs a Common Language of Leadership
What is a Leadership Culture?
A leadership culture is more than a mission statement or a list of values. According to Chris Goede, real change happens when everyone—frontline staff, managers, and executives—understands and uses the same language to talk about leadership. In the podcast, Chris describes how the absence of shared leadership vocabulary leads to unintentional silos and mixed signals, reducing effectiveness and trust.
“If I ask a leadership team how they define leadership, I often get as many answers as there are people in the room. Without a common language, each leader creates their own leadership ‘subculture’.”
How a Common Leadership Language Boosts Engagement and Influence
The Five Levels Model – Creating a Shared Map for Influence
How the Five Levels Structure Communication
The John Maxwell Five Levels of Leadership offers a practical, scalable framework. Chris explains that this model gives teams a shorthand for understanding influence, growth, and how to advance together—not just individually. With clear terms for “Level 1 (Position),” “Level 2 (Permission/Connection),” “Level 3 (Production),” “Level 4 (People Development),” and “Level 5 (Pinnacle),” teams can quickly align priorities and behaviors. For example, someone might say, “We need some Level 2 time,” indicating a need for team connection rather than just task execution.
Practical Strategies to Build Influence at Leadership Levels 2, 3, and 4
Steps to Build and Reinforce Your Leadership Language
Practical Framework for Implementation
- Integrate shared language in meetings and feedback. Encourage leaders to reference levels explicitly.
- Model leadership behaviors at every level. Tie actions to the language and values promoted organization-wide.
- Gather feedback and refine. Use surveys and discussions to keep the language relevant.
A simple example from the podcast: Leaders using meeting time to share personal “Level 2” stories or asking for “Level 3” focus (production/results mode) helps everyone align expectations.
How to Gain Influence in Your Business with the Five Levels of Leadership
Additional Resources
Real-World Example:
At Maxwell Leadership, even multi-generational, hybrid, and remote teams use the Five Levels language to communicate needs and set clear expectations. For instance, team members might request “Level 4 time” for professional development or “Level 2 moments” for team building, whether in-person or remote. Learn more in a recent episode of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast with Chris Goede, Executive Vice President at Maxwell Leadership.