I’ve often pondered a powerful truth that reshaped my journey: Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.

This revelation isn’t just words to me; it’s a lifeline that turned my career around when I faced a stark realization — my team saw me as just another cog in the machine, not the leader I was appointed to be.

Think of leadership like an iceberg. What people see is just the title — a mere fragment of the colossal force lurking beneath.

In the complex dance of tech and engineering sectors, your title may open doors, but your influence moves the gears.

The Five Levels: A Leader’s Compass

John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership became my compass in navigating the treacherous waters of leadership. Let me walk you through them, as they’ve profoundly impacted the way I connect with and inspire my teams.

Level 1: Position

When I earned my first leadership role, my team knew me — Florin, the colleague, the buddy. But respect? Influence? I might as well have been talking to the machines I programmed.

I learned that leadership isn’t a coronation; it’s a crucible where your mettle is tested.

Level 2: Permission

Real influence began to take root when I shifted focus from demanding results to forming genuine connections.

I discovered that when your team grants you the ‘permission’ to lead, they’re not just following orders; they’re willingly joining your quest.

Level 3: Production

For us in tech, results speak louder than theories. When you drive innovations and solutions that mark success stories, you embody the ‘production’ level of leadership.

Your team doesn’t just follow you; they believe in you.

Level 4: People Development

The moment you start seeing your team members not just as task executors but as potential leaders, you’ve reached ‘people development.’

Here, influence is about empowering others to innovate and solve problems—perhaps even better than you could.

Level 5: Pinnacle

‘Respect’ — the pinnacle of leadership is rarefied air. It’s where your legacy of influence endures, inspiring not just a team, but an entire industry.

It’s where leaders like John Maxwell reside, having crafted paths for others to follow.

Why It Matters to You

You’re in a world driven by precision, innovation, and unrelenting progress. Your team looks to you not just for instructions but for inspiration.

When a project hits a snag, they’ll look at how you respond, and that’s where your true influence lies.

I’ve been there, in the trenches, directing teams in the automotive industry where efficiency and precision are the heartbeats of success.

I’ve seen firsthand how fostering trust, embracing vulnerability, and giving personal attention brought out the best in my team. And when I realized that vulnerability was not a liability but a gateway to trust, everything changed.

Your Journey of Influence

Your path as a leader is unique. You face challenges that test not only your technical expertise but your ability to lead. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s that your leadership must evolve as the landscape changes.

Invitation to Dive Deeper

If my words resonate with you, if you’ve felt the friction of trying to lead without genuine influence, I invite you to watch the replay of my live course. We delve into these principles, armed with real-life stories and practical strategies tailored for leaders like you.

Your team’s innovation, your project’s success, and your company’s future — they all hinge on your ability to lead, to influence.

Let’s embark on this journey together. Watch the replay, embrace the principles, and elevate your leadership to heights you’ve never imagined.

Click here to watch it on LinkedIn, YouTube or Facebook.

Because at the end of the day, influence is not just about the leader you are today, but the legacy you build for tomorrow.

Join me, and let’s shape the future of leadership in tech and engineering together.

Warm regards,

Florin