Could be first-time leader or someone in a new role, in a starting place of discovering new skills, or honing skills in a new environment. They are not yet fully competent in a certain area. 

This is typical for either a first-time leader or for someone in a new role. It is a starting place, of discovering new skills, or honing skills in a new environment. It can describe a leader who may not yet be fully confident or established. In this stage of leadership, position and permission are experienced as important. In terms of their use of power, the person at this stage gains power from others, rather than finding it within themselves. In terms of faith the person at this stage of first-time leadership tends to have a simple trust and regular devotional life.  They can tend to lean on religious authority or religious tradition rather than exploring inconsistencies and the depths of their faith.  

With increasing competence, effectiveness, self-awareness, increased decision confidence, good team building and development of others.   

In this stage there is evidence of increasing self-awareness and of personal impact of self on others. There is general competence in personal skills, a growing awareness of the “bigger picture” and culture, increased decision confidence, good team building and more regular use and development of other people. The person in this stage is not so dependent on “norms” and rules but is able to consider new and different ways of leading and has a more reflective lifestyle. This leader has increasing credibility and increasingly achieves results. In terms of their use of power the person at this stage has developed independence and finds strength and power within themselves. In terms of faith the person at this stage takes responsibility for their own beliefs, is theologically reflective, has an increased awareness of conflicts within their faith and more open to complexity. Their simple faith continues to be expressed in the deepening of their walk with Jesus. 

High level of personal abilities: relationship builder, communicator, manage complexity, priority of developing other leaders, maturity in faith and character from critical thinking and reflection.

In this stage the person evidences a high level of personal skills and abilities and maturity in faith and character resulting from the use of critical thinking and reflection. There is an understanding of and ability to manage complexity in a variety of contexts, and a priority of identifying and developing other leaders. The person at this stage of development is a skilled communicator, relationship builder and people manager who is seen to achieve good outcomes. In terms of their use of power this person has developed a sense of their own personal power, likes to make an impact with it and is able to increasingly notice and choose differently when there might be a draw to use power competitively or paternalistically, and chooses to release others rather than control others. In terms of their faith there is a confidence that acknowledges paradox and transcendence that goes beyond human systems. It is a complex understanding of multidimensional truths, yet the simplicity of trust is intact and the depth of their life in the presence of Jesus is a model and example to others and obviously shapes their character. 

Development from previous stages result in a leader of wisdom, spiritual authority, Christlike character who thinks strategically, casts inspiring vision, forms transformational change, manages chaos and order, fosters interdependence, sets culture of flourishing leadership, empowers others.

In this stage the person’s life and development from all the previous stages has resulted in a leader in whom wisdom, spiritual authority and great capabilities are evident as the person models flourishing leadership at its best. This person thinks strategically, has a clear vision to move towards and is able to cast that vision in a way that others are inspired and enthused to own it, and is able to set a culture in which other people are able to flourish. In this stage the person is able to bring about transformational change, is comfortable with ambiguity, manages chaos and order and lives and fosters interdependence. In terms of their use of power they act in the service of others, their self takes second place, and they are all about empowering others. In terms of faith this person is able to see beyond the boundaries of particular rules or religions, treating everyone with love and justice, developing community of love and justice. They live their life in the constant awareness of the presence of Jesus and the likeness of Jesus is formed in every aspect of their character. The simplicity of their love for Jesus shapes decisions and lifestyle.