In reviewing The 21 Irrefutable Law of Leadership again, the following is an excerpt from the book by Maxwell.
“Over the course of time, seven key areas reveal themselves in a leader’s lives that cause them to step forward as leaders:”
Character – Who They Are
“True leadership always begins with the inner person. People can sense the depth of character.”
Relationships – Who They Know
“You’re a leader only if you have followers, and that always requires the development of relationships – the deeper the relationships, the stronger the potential leadership.”
Knowledge – Who They Know
“Information is vital to a leader. You need a grasp of the facts, an understanding of the factors involved, and a vision for the future. Knowledge alone won’t make someone a leader, but without it, he can’t become one.”
Intuition – What They Feel
“Leadership requires more than just a command of data. It demands an ability to deal with numerous intangibles.”
Experience – Where They’ve Been
“The greater the challenges you’ve faced in the past, the more likely followers are to give you a chance. Experience doesn’t guarantee credibility, but it encourages people to give you a chance to prove that you are capable.”
Past Success – What They’ve Done
“Nothing speaks to followers like a good track record. Every time I extended myself, took a risk, and succeeded, followers had another reason to trust my leadership ability – and to listen to what I had to say.”
Ability – What They Can Do
“The bottom line for followers is what a leader is capable of. Ultimately, that’s the reason people will listen to you and acknowledge you as their leader. As soon as they no longer believe you can deliver, they will stop listening.”
As you read through the seven key areas, how were you challenged? Is there a specific area where you need improvement? What can you do about it this week?
Live Passionately and Lead!
John
