This week I listened to a radio broadcast celebrating the legacy of Jim Flaherty, our Federal Conservative Finance Minister who passed away this month.  Mr. Flaherty served as Canada’s Finance Minister for 8 years, and was arguably one of the world’s best.

I have not been keenly aware of Mr. Flaherty as a leader, only to the point of acknowledging that he did an exemplary job financially navigating Canada through some of the roughest global economic waters in recent history.  However, since his passing and state funeral tributes have been pouring in from a wide variety of sources all across Canada.

The people I heard on the radio and read about in various news media all pointed to his character as a man, and to his encouragement of other leaders.  One politician shared how he had called her frequently over the course of 5 months to say the same thing, “So I understand you have decided to run for the conservative party.”  She hadn’t of course, but this was his way of opening up dialogue to convince her of the contribution she could make to others through service in politics.  She ultimately followed his encouragement and successfully entered the political arena.

He was often referred to as a mentor by many people.  Some even indicated that he was more than a mentor – he had made a way for them in politics.  Someone referred to him as a great “advocate”.

These conversations got me thinking about leadership, and in particular, what I am calling a Leadership Maturity Continuum.  I propose that anyone who is a leader is somewhere on this continuum.  Perhaps I should say anyone who is a “good” leader.  The Leadership Maturity Continuum is something we progress through as leaders as we mature in our leadership abilities.

The Leadership Maturity Continuum is as follows:

1. A Good Example
2. A Role Model
3. A Mentor
4. An Advocate

Often when we first take on leadership we perhaps serve as a bad example, but if we learn from our mistakes, receive input from others and grow in our understanding we can mature into a good leader, or a Good Example.  This stage represents a mature leader who demonstrates good leadership skills and produces good results through their leadership.  However, they remain fairly self-centered and not necessarily engaged in empowering others.

A Role Model has matured to the place where they recognize their responsibility to those they lead.  They recognize others look to them as an example of how to lead.  They are happy to carry that mantle and do so willingly.

A Mentor has taken their leadership to the next level and has chosen to intentionally invest in the lives of others.  They encourage, equip, envision, inspire and engage others to be the best they can be.  They recognize their responsibility as a leader to help others be their best.  Their leadership is not about them, but about those they lead.

An Advocate has taken their mentorship to the highest level possible – they mentor others, but also advocate on their behalf to open up opportunities for advancement.  This can be in the form of promotions, recommendations, referrals, or any other means by which the leader leverages their authority and influence to create opportunities for those they are mentoring.

An “advocate” is someone who pleads for or on behalf of another, who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, who promotes another – they are a proponent, a backer, a champion.  An Advocate leader champions the cause of those they lead.  That doesn’t mean an Advocate leader does the work for those they lead so people can follow along effortlessly in their wake.  No, an Advocate leader champions others because he/she believes in a person, so they create opportunities for those they lead to prove their ability and move forward.

So, where are you on the Leadership Maturity Continuum?

Good Example, Role Model, Mentor, or Advocate?  Do you aspire to be an Advocate?

As leaders we all have something to offer.  Let’s choose to wholeheartedly invest into others that which we have been given, and look for whose cause we can champion to leave a legacy of Advocacy in the lives of others.

Everybody needs an Advocate.