Learning from a Leadership Master

John Maxwell spoke at recent event sponsored by audIT and cynet, at High Point University that I had the opportunity to be invited to. Mr. Maxwell, a noted authority of leadership and the author of dozens of books on the subject. He spoke on perhaps his most famous book on the subject, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, which has been revised and expanded.

He covered 5 of them:

Law of the Lid

How well you lead is how well you succeed.

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Grow leaders:

• What are we doing to develop ourselves (we begin to add)
• What are we doing to develop others (we begin to multiply)

Do we have good values? Do we have good leadership skills? Both are required to succeed.

Our leadership level is a limiter. We have to raise this level consistently.

We attract who we are, not what we want.

Our lid also limits the quality of the talent we attract and retain.

Law of Process

Leaders develop daily, not in a day (crockpot not pop-tart)

We need a leadership culture, not a leadership course

When you grow in a process your success is being stored before it shows

Law of Addition

Leaders add value by serving others

All leadership is servant leadership. There really is no other.

Leadership is influencing others, by adding value to them.

5 things to do daily to value people

1. Value people
2. Think of ways to add value to people
3. Look for ways to add value to people
4. Do things that add value to people
5. Encourage others to add value to people

How we view things is how we do things.

Law of Solid Ground

Trust is the foundation for leadership.

3 Questions followers ask their leader

1. Do you like me?
2. Can you help me? (can you make things better)
3. Can I trust you?

When people have good values they are more valuable because they can give more value.

Law of Priorities

Leaders understand that activity isn't necessarily accomplishment

List tasks in priority order - do 2 and accomplish 80% of the results. The Pareto Principle 80/20

What's required of me?

What gives me the greatest return?

What gives me the greatest reward?

During Q&A I asked about helping entrepreneurs starting out.

Key things to start with is helping people change their thinking and also to grow. Their capacity to grow grows with growth. Some of his books to give them (or perhaps read yourself).

• How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
• The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential
• Developing the Leader Within You