JO SAXTON

A LEADER’S
LEVEL UP
GUIDE

PREPARED BY JO SAXTON
author, speaker, podcast host
leadership coach

JOSAXTON.COM
© 2019 Jo Saxton
WELCOME!
Looking at the opportunities and challenges facing us every day as leaders –
in our homes, communities, churches, companies — we might think it
requires the talents and the capacity of superheroes to effectively lead our
people, our projects, and even ourselves. I understand that feeling. While
leading is inspiring, exciting and faith-building, it’s also hard, challenging,
occasionally disappointing and sometimes heart-crushing. No matter your
experience level as a leader, you’ll eventually be reminded that not
everything is under our control — even if everything is your responsibility.

Here’s the good news: You can raise your game as a leader to overcome the
next obstacle and maximize the next opportunity. You can level up!

HOW
When the leader levels up, he or she is free to
lead themselves, their teams or their

LEADERS
organization to their greatest capacity, using
all their gifts, skills and incredible talents.

START However, the first step to accessing and

LEVELING activating our capacity is gaining clarity,

specifically on three things:

UP Our identity — who you are

Our community — who your people are
Our wellness — how you’re really doing

We can learn to take the limits off our

leadership and truly level up by asking
ourselves some probing questions about what’s
happening in our lives and what is shaping us.

A LEADER'S LEVEL UP GUIDE © 2019

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JO SAXTON
 HOW TO USE THE LEADER’S
LEVEL UP GUIDE
To support you on your leadership journey, I’ve developed this resource
to guide you through the process of deepening your clarity to accelerate
your ability to leverage your capacity. Here’s a step-by-step plan to get
the most out of the Leader’s Level Up Guide,
Answer the questions in
each of the three sections
1 as they pertain to you,
the leader.
As prompted, outline
your corrective next
2 steps and assign
deadlines to take action.
Ask your core team of
leaders to download the
3 Leader’s Level Up Guide
and answer the
questions, as well.
Schedule 15-minute one-
on-one conversations with
4 your team to inquire about
what they learned about
themselves, inquire about
their corrective actions,
and offer your support.
A LEADER'S LEVEL UP GUIDE © 2019
JO SAXTON
Ask yourself these
questions and make an
action plan for each
answer. Get your teams
working on these
questions, too. Strong
leaders develop and lead
strong leaders, and those
leaders will create strong
teams. Focus on yourself
first, but bring your team
with you.
The opportunities and
obstacles facing our
world are crying out for
healthy leaders to create
and shape cultures and
organizations where
humanity flourishes. We
need your influence
impacting our world.
May your leadership be
limitless!
03
SECTION 1: IDENTITY
Who were you before anyone told you who you were
supposed to be?

How is your perception of "who" you're supposed to be still shaping how you
see yourself and how is it limiting your leadership?
Who do you think you are?
Who were you before life happened to you?
What stories are you telling yourself about your skills, your potential, and/or
your talent that are currently limiting your leadership?

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JO SAXTON
SECTION 1: IDENTITY
Action Plan

GAIN PERSPECTIVE on who you’ve become by taking two to three

personality assessments. While no assessments will be 100% accurate or
comprehensive, they will likely illuminate things you’ve overlooked, forgotten
or previously struggled to communicate about yourself.

Due Date:

RECALIBRATE your priorities, vision, and values by writing your own

obituary. As extreme as it may sound, leaders not only begin with the end in
mind; they also live with the end in mind. Nothing will clear up your focus
like considering how you want to be remembered by those who matter most
to you. To maximize the impact, include quotes from your spouse, children
and/or colleagues based on what you’d hope they say about you.

Due Date:

ADDITIONAL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS DUE DATE

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JO SAXTON
SECTION 2: WELLNESS
If your body could talk to you, what would it want to
say?

On a typical night, how many hours are you sleeping?

When are you using substances or activities to numb yourself?
How are you using substances or activities to numb yourself?
On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your current passion level for work? Is that an
increase or decrease from the previous three to six months?
How often are you exercising each week?

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 SECTION 2: WELLNESS
Action Plan
ASK your spouse (or closest friends) the question popularized by pastors and
authors Andy Stanley and Jeff Henderson:“What’s it like to be on the other side
of me?” Those closest to us often see our unhealthy areas long before we see
them in ourselves.

Due Date:

TAKE your emotional and mental temperature each day for the next 30 days.
Set a recurring alarm on your phone that asks, “Who am I feeling right now?
Why?” Due Date:
Select a notebook to document your responses. (You’re welcome to use your
phone notes, as well.) Due Date:

IDENTIFY AND LIST the meetings on your schedule that could be turned into
walking meetings where you and the participants walk around the office (or
outside) in lieu of sitting. Leaders like Steve Jobs used these to boost creativity,
shorten meeting length, and add physical movement to the workday..

Due Date:

ADDITIONAL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS DUE DATE

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SECTION 3: COMMUNITY
Who are your people?

What friends in your life know you and make you feel seen?
Who in your life do you feel most comfortable with — in both successful and
challenging times?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well are you currently nurturing your community
or your inner circle of trusted friends?
Who do you miss spending time with?
Who in your life naturally inspires you to be the best version of yourself?

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 SECTION 3: COMMUNITY
Action Plan
CREATE an informal personal advisory board:

1. LIST two to six friends (ideally, peers) who could potentially contribute to
your learning and growth.

Due Date:

1) ______________________________ 2) ______________________________

3) ______________________________ 4) ______________________________

5) ______________________________ 6) ______________________________

2. CONTACT these individuals and request an in-person check-in at least

every other month. (If an in-person isn’t available, schedule a video call.)

Due Date:

CHECK-IN #1

Date & Time:

Location:

Person/Friend:

CHECK-IN #2

Date & Time:

Location:

Person/Friend:

CHECK-IN #3

Date & Time:

Location:

Person/Friend:

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 SECTION 3: COMMUNITY
Action Plan

ADDITIONAL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS DUE DATE

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