07/10/2024
Recently, I was fortunate enough to work on a project that included the great John C. Maxell as the key speaker.
Not only did he bring an encouraging charm and infectious scene of humor to the stage; his message of leadership brought a challenging call to action to business owners and entrepreneurial leaders - lead the way by doing the right things but not for popularity but because true leadership is doing what is right!
One of the books I own from John Maxwell is "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership." Today, I wanted to share these 21 concepts with you. My hope is that at least 1 of these ideas today challenges you to be a greater leader, no matter where you are!
1. The Law of the Lid
Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness.
Your leadership potential acts as a lid on how effective you can be in life and business. To increase your overall success, raise your leadership skills.
2. The Law of Influence
True leadership is measured by influence, nothing more, nothing less.
Leadership isn't about titles, positions, or authority but rather about the ability to influence others.
3. The Law of Process
Leadership develops daily, not in a day.
Becoming a leader is a lifelong process. True leadership grows through daily practice and experience, not overnight.
4. The Law of Navigation
Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.
Leaders plan, prepare, and guide people toward the goal. They anticipate obstacles and have a clear vision for where they are going.
5. The Law of Addition
Leaders add value by serving others.
Effective leaders focus on adding value to others. They serve their teams, organizations, and communities with the goal of improvement.
6. The Law of Solid Ground
Trust is the foundation of leadership.
Leaders must be trustworthy and honest. Trust is earned over time through integrity, consistency, and ethical behavior.
7. The Law of Respect
People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves.
Leaders earn respect through their character, values, and competence. People will gravitate toward leaders they respect.
8. The Law of Intuition
Leaders evaluate everything with a leadership bias.
Good leaders have strong instincts and intuition. They can read situations, trends, and people to make the right decisions.
9. The Law of Magnetism
Who you are is who you attract.
Leaders attract people who are similar in mindset, values, and energy. If you want to attract better leaders, you need to grow yourself first.
10. The Law of Connection
Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand.
Effective leaders connect with people on an emotional level before they ask them to follow. Relationships and trust are essential.
11. The Law of the Inner Circle.
A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to them. Surround yourself with strong, competent leaders. Your team’s capacity and talent will determine how far you can go as a leader.
12. The Law of Empowerment
Only secure leaders give power to others.
Great leaders are not threatened by empowering others. They trust and equip their team to lead as well.
13. The Law of the Picture
People do what they see.
Leaders set the example for their teams. Your behavior, attitude, and ethics should reflect what you expect from others.
14. The Law of Buy-In
People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.
People need to believe in the leader first before they commit to the vision. Building trust and loyalty is essential for achieving goals.
15. The Law of Victory
Leaders find a way for the team to win.
True leaders are determined to succeed and will do whatever it takes to achieve victory. They inspire others to persevere and find solutions.
16. The Law of the Big Mo
Momentum is a leader’s best friend.
When a leader generates momentum, it becomes easier to achieve goals. Leaders should work to build and maintain momentum to drive success.
17. The Law of Priorities
Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment.
Great leaders focus on what matters most. They set priorities that align with their vision and goals, not just staying busy.
18. The Law of Sacrifice
A leader must give up to go up.
Leadership comes with sacrifice. True leaders are willing to make personal sacrifices to grow and help their team succeed.
19. The Law of Timing
When to lead is as important as what to do and where to go.
Effective leaders recognize the importance of timing in decision-making. Knowing when to act is often as crucial as knowing what to do.
20. The Law of Explosive Growth
To add growth, lead followers – to multiply, lead leaders.
Leaders who focus on developing other leaders will see exponential growth in their organization. This multiplies the leadership impact.
21. The Law of Legacy
A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.
True leaders leave behind a lasting legacy by preparing and equipping the next generation of leaders to continue the mission.
Maxwell's book underscores the importance of leadership as a process of influence, trust-building, and empowering others. The laws help to refine and guide individuals toward becoming strong and effective leaders by focusing on service, sacrifice, and vision.
