Guide to Exemplary Leadership: 11 Directives to Succeed Outstandingly
In the realm of leadership, John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership serve as a guiding light for those seeking to develop their leadership skills and influence. These laws provide a structured approach to leadership development, emphasizing growth, influence, commitment, and learning.
The Law of the Lid, for instance, highlights that a leader's effectiveness is limited by their leadership ability. This ability, however, can be improved through intentional development of skills and qualities over time, raising the "lid" on success.
The Law of Influence underscores that leadership is essentially about influencing others, not just holding a position. Effective leadership development, therefore, focuses on increasing one’s ability to positively impact people.
The Law of Process reinforces that leadership is not an event but a gradual, ongoing journey of continuous learning and improvement. Development happens stepwise as leaders gain experience and knowledge.
The Law of Victory encourages leadership development through cultivating commitment and leading by example. Great leaders commit to winning and lead from the front, setting an example that inspires followers.
Maxwell also outlines different levels at which leadership can be exercised and developed, such as in his concept of the 360° Leader. Leadership growth occurs at every organizational level.
Maxwell's teachings also emphasize foundational focus. Principles like focusing on strengths, providing clarity and direction, and surrounding oneself with the right people are key to fostering leadership growth.
Moreover, the "chaos flex" is a gritty move to shine when it's messy, involving quick decision-making and delegation to maintain calm and confidence. True leaders empower their team members to work more independently and have a clear vision they communicate to their followers.
Leaders are also responsible for setting up a system for their team to receive progress updates on their goals. Consistency of character is a key trait of trustworthy leaders, and people naturally respect and follow leaders who rank higher on the leadership scale.
People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care about them, as per the Law of Connection. Leaders build an inner circle of friends and colleagues who support them on their path to success. Leaders attract people who see them as a kindred spirit, as per the Law of Magnetism.
To earn more respect, one can add more value, master body language, and be a source of courage and hope. If a leader doesn't currently have a clear, easy-to-explain vision for their team, they should create one and share it with their followers.
In conclusion, Maxwell’s laws influence leadership development by offering a comprehensive framework that guides leaders to increase their influence, develop essential skills, maintain continuous growth, and lead with purpose and commitment. This law-based approach makes leadership development accessible and actionable at all stages of a leader's journey.
[1] Maxwell, John C. (2007). The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow. Thomas Nelson.
[2] Maxwell, John C. (2011). The 360° Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. Thomas Nelson.
[3] Maxwell, John C. (2003). The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader's Day. Thomas Nelson.
[4] Maxwell, John C. (1993). Developing the Leader Within You. Thomas Nelson.
[5] Maxwell, John C. (2005). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You. HarperCollins Leadership.
- Aware of the importance of education-and-self-development and career-development, leaders should strive to improve their finance skills, as Maxwell's teachings emphasize that effective leadership requires a clear, easy-to-explain vision (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership).
- In the business world, rather than merely holding a leadership position, one needs to develop the ability to positively influence others and lead by example (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership). This can be achieved through intentional learning, as the Law of the Lid suggests that a leader's effectiveness is limited by their leadership ability, while the Law of Victory encourages cultivating commitment and leading from the front.
