John C Maxwell
the 21 iffefutable laws of leadership
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And now, America’s expert on leadership, John C Maxwell, with “the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership”.
The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership, follow them, and people will follow you.
I have the privilege of teaching leadership across the country and around the globe, and I often get the opportunity to talk with people who attending one of my conferences for a 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th time. At a recent conference here in the United States, a man in his late 50, assumed I had met him several years before, came up and spoke to me during the break. He grab my hand and shook it vigorously, he said: “learning leadership has changed my life, but I wish I had heard you 20 years ago.”
“No, you don’t” I answered with a chuckle.
“What do you mean?” he said. “I would have achieved so much more, if I had known these leadership principles 20 years ago, I would be in a totally different place in life. Your leadership laws have fused my vision; they’ve given me the desire to learn more about leadership and accomplish my goal. If I had learned these 20 years ago, I could have done some of the things that I had never even dreamed possible.”
“Maybe you would have,” I answered. “But 20 years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to teach them to you, it has taken me an entire life time to learn and apply the laws of leadership to my life.”
As I talk to you, I’m 51 years old. I’ve spent more than 30 years in professional leadership position. I’ve founded 4 companies. And I focus my time and energy on doing what makes a positive impact in the lives of people.
As I travel and speak to organizations and individuals, peopl e frequently ask me to define the essentials of leadership. They ask: “If you would take everything you’ve learned about leadership over the years, and boil it down into a short list, what would it be?”
This book on cassette is my answer to that often asked question. It has taken me a life-time to learn these 21 irrefutable laws of leadership. My desire is to communicate them to you as simple, and clearly as possible.
And it sure won’t hurt; it would have some fun along the way. One of the most
important truths I’ve learned over the years is this: leadership is leadership, no matter where you go or what you do. Time has changed, technology marches forward. Cultures vary from place to place, but the true principles of leadership are constant. They are irrefutable and stand the test of time.
As you listen to the following laws, I’d like you to keep in mind 4 ideas: First, the laws can be learned. Some are easier to understand than apply the others, but every one of them can be acquired.
Second, the laws can stand alone. Each law compliments all the others, but you don’t need one in order to learn another.
Third, the laws carry consequences with them. Apply the laws and people will follow you. Violate or ignore them, and you will not be able to lead others.
Fourth, these laws are the foundation of leadership. Once you learn the principles, you have to practice them and apply them to your life. Whether you are a follower, who is just beginning to discover the impact of leadership, or a natural leader who already has followers, you can become a better leader.
Some laws you may already practice effectively, other laws will expose weaknesses you didn’t know you had. But the greater the number of laws you learned, the better leader you will become.
Each law is like a tool, ready to be picked up and used to help you achieve your dreams and add value to other people’s life. Pick up even one, and you will become a better leader. Learn them all, and people will gladly follow you. Now let’s open the tool box together.
1. Leadership law No. 1, the law of the lid. Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness.
I often open my leadership conferences by explaining the law of the lid, because it helps people understand the value of leadership. If you can get a handle on this law, you will see the incredible impact of leadership on every aspect of life.
So here it is, leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. The lower individual’s ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential. The higher the leadership, the greater the effectiveness. To give you an example, if your leadership rates an eight, then your effectiveness can never be greater than a seven. If your leadership is only a four, then your effectiveness will be no higher than a three. Your leadership ability, for better or for worse, always determines your effectiveness and potential impact of your organization.
Let me tell you a story that illustrates the law of the lid. In 1930, two young
