Episode 06: Six (6) Phases of Leadership Pt. 2 with Joshua K. McMillion
From Results to Legacy
Featuring Joshua McMillion | Tales of Leadership Podcast Ep. 6
This episode builds on the foundation of Part I by walking through the final three phases of leadership—where leadership transitions from personal growth to organizational impact. The first three phases—self-leadership, situational leadership, and strengthening relationships—lay the groundwork. But the true test of leadership begins when results, development, and legacy come into play.
At this stage of the journey, leadership becomes more demanding, more complex, and more impactful. It requires greater commitment, more energy, and a deeper level of intentionality. The further you advance in leadership, the more it demands from you—not less.
Succeeding together is where leadership shifts from building relationships to producing results. Leaders are not placed in positions to maintain the status quo—they are expected to create traction, build momentum, and deliver outcomes. This phase requires balancing authentic relationships while driving performance at the same time. That tension defines effective leadership.
To succeed together, leaders must build organizations rooted in trust, discipline, and empowerment. This includes fostering environments where constructive candor and disciplined disobedience are expected. If your team does not feel comfortable speaking up, the organization will stagnate—and that failure falls on the leader. A critical shift here is moving from tactical execution to an aerial mindset. Leaders must stop solving every problem and instead empower their teams to operate. If you remain the decision-maker for everything, you become the bottleneck for progress.
Shaping leaders is where leadership multiplies. This phase is no longer about what you accomplish—it is about who you develop. Leaders must create and protect white space to think, mentor, and invest in others. Without it, development becomes reactive instead of intentional. This phase also requires discernment—understanding where to invest your time for maximum impact while maintaining professionalism.
There is a clear distinction between leadership and likership. Developing others does not mean becoming friends—it means challenging them, pushing them, and helping them grow beyond what they believe is possible. Your goal as a leader is to develop others so well that you work yourself out of a job.
Summit leadership is the pinnacle—rare, demanding, and built on years of experience, failure, and growth. At this level, leaders operate with an aerial perspective, focusing on strategic problems, long-term vision, and developing other high-level leaders. Their influence extends beyond their immediate organization and impacts thousands of lives.
Summit leaders are bridge builders. They guide others along the leadership journey while ensuring continuity and sustained success. But even at the summit, leadership remains a journey, not a destination. Even at the highest level, leadership requires humility, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous growth.
Final Thoughts
Leadership is not a destination—it is a journey that requires constant growth, reflection, and commitment. The final three phases—succeeding together, shaping leaders, and summit leadership—represent the transition from individual success to lasting impact.
Building relationships while achieving results is challenging. Creating time to think and invest in others requires discipline. Remaining coachable, curious, and committed demands humility.
If you are not intentionally advancing on your leadership journey, you are unintentionally standing still.
After Action Review (AAR)
What lessons did you learn about yourself as you progressed through the six phases of leadership?
Where are you currently on your leadership journey—and what is required to reach the next phase?
Are you actively committing the time and energy needed to grow, or are you relying on past success?
Tales of Leadership Mission: To develop Purposeful Accountable Leaders by arming you with the tools
required to lead with purpose, integrity, and accountability.
More Exclusive Content
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Brabner’s journey from infantry combat leader to military robotics innovator shows how leadership can transform even the largest organizations. In this episode, he shares raw lessons from combat, where the absence of simple tools like soldier-borne sensors cost lives, and how those experiences fueled his drive to reshape the military’s approach to unmanned systems. Brabner reveals how visionary leadership—rooted in Boy Scout values, hardened in Ranger School, and tested in combat—has turned fragile, expensive assets into modular, mission-ready tools that give soldiers a decisive edge. His story is a powerful reminder that disruptive change requires both innovation and leaders willing to challenge the status quo.