Book Report on “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”
This book has been very helpful and eyeopening to several things I have never thought of. Being in a servant leadership position I am very thankful for the opportunity to read this book and learn to apply this to my life. I will put this book on my read once a year shelf. Each area mentioned spoke to me and it was clearly understood the process, the story’s, the application. I was very pleased that Maxwell revised his book. He added more detailed explanations and almost all the different ways to apply it. He tells us about each law in a simple and understandable detail but doesn’t overwhelm me. During my observations each law stood out to me. They are all equally important as one can
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Maxwell states that working hard and raising the lid increases effectiveness and potential. The leadership impact is always determined on how high the lid is. Leadership is not held in one category or one character there are different forms and positions of leadership and each require their own laws. The law that caught my attention was the Law of Influence. As a child I remember one of my older cousins always leading me around. I looked up to her, followed by example. She taught me how to grocery shop. But this reminded me that with out relationship you will have no influence even in a small situation like this, I can see the importance. Yet this is not easy, hard work is required to gain influence in any organization and earn the right to become a leader. He says just because you have a leadership position doesn’t mean you are a good leader. Look at Hitler a man of influence but not a “good” leader. Leaders must be God ordained leaders and cannot be appointed or assigned. You must work for it. You either spend your days wasted away or you are building up your …show more content…
It is Important to remain teachable before, during and after your leadership position. With leadership comes great responsibility. I have been blessed with a great work ethic, I was disciplined with as a Child and bringing it into my young adult years has helped me a lot. My passion has been in Early Childhood, my passion is what drives me to be the leader I want to be. Every leader should want to lead to where their followers surpass themselves. I can use this information now to gain knowledge ahead of time. And use it as a teaching material. I have learned that you do not have to gain experience and knowledge by learning the hard way. If you take heed what is being placed in front of you it wont take a lifetime to learn. God has anointed teachers and preachers above us to give us a heads up on what to do and not to do. I check in thrift stores often as I love reading books to learn and gain wisdom. I have recently just this week stumbled upon a large collection of John Maxwell 's companion workbooks and leadership books. I will use the summer to catch up on my readings. His writings have blessed me and my family over the years. I pray to excel in servant leadership even
“Leadership is a process in which many can engage, not a position that only a few can hold.
Kelley, R.E. (1988). In Praise of Followers. In Wren, J.T. (Ed.). (1995). The Leader’s Companion (pp. 193-204). New York: Simon & Schuster.
...yself more than I even thought I already knew. Being open to this text book and what it has to say inside and what my teachers has to say during class and my classmates’ inputs on the subject have really taught me a lot. Just being open to all this information has helped me with my transition between my old life and my new one here in Valdosta. It also will stay in mind and help me in the future with anything I do, especially when I lead.
Becoming a leader is never an easy task. It is complex with rational decision making and accepting responsibility for those decisions. Being the leader, does not mean that you always make the best choice, but it does mean you learn and grow from all you experiences. Sometimes becoming a leader is not a choice, but a responsibility that you inherit. Leaders are not born, but are created through trial and error. A true leader cares for his subordinate and will always respect, listen, and mentor them, but a true leader will also discipline correct subordinates when needed. Sometimes a leader needs to depend on his faith and look to a higher power, so that he can make choices with guidance.
The purpose of writhing this essay is to describe how to be an effective leader and how to lead a group to become a team. There are four principles of effective leadership will be described in the essay. The first principle is, to be an effective leader is a leader must have an extrovert personality. Second principle is, to be an effective leader is a leader must be able to delegate authority. Third principle is, to be an effective leader is the leader must able to maximize the potential ability of the followers. The last principle is, to be an effective leader is the leader must be able to make decision and take responsibility for the consequences. The different critical incidents also will be write in the essay to explain each of the principles and include theories such as Tuckman model, situational theory, behavioural theory and transformational leadership. In the end of this essay, a summary will be provided based on what I had learn throughout the semester in my PLG and LLG. Apart from that, the recommendations on how can we relates the principles into real life practice will be included.
I believe that leadership is not something that you are born with, but that has to be learned over time. You learn to become a leader from watching other leaders, and also from personal experience. People should become leaders; so that they can help others do their best. They should not become leaders for the title and power that may come with leadership. Being a leader does not mean you get to boss people around by telling them what to do. The purpose of a leader is to guide others by encouraging, showing them the way, and by challenging them to do the best that they can do. I learned leadership through personal experience. In high school I played sports and had many class projects to do. My senior year was the first time my school had a soccer program, and I along with two other girls was captains. As we all know, when a group of girls come together, the drama comes too. All three of the captains had to work together and show the girls that if we wanted this program to be a success and grow, they had to work together as well. It was hard at first, but when we encouraged everyone, it worked out better than expected in the end. Also, in my business class, we had a lot of projects that were mostly group projects. During the end of the year, we had a project where we had to make up a new product. My partner and I were both seniors and it was a stressful time with finals, SAT scores, graduation, and trying to become honor graduates. We were tired and just did not want to do another project, but our teacher, Mr. Brace, did not give up on us. He showed us what to do, and encouraged us constantly every day. He would tell us many positive things and would check up on us. He was a great teacher and a great leader. Leadership may be one wo...
When people think of leadership so many things rush through their heads. For example am I a leader, am I apart of a group that has a leader, and what does being a leader mean? A common definition of being a leader is a person who leads or guides a group of people. So now knowing the definition of a leader who pops into your head; Phil Jackson, Mike Krzyzewski, Martin Luther King Jr.? All of these people are great leaders, but the real question is why are they so great? One very important thing that all these men have in common is they have a philosophy of leadership. This philosophy is going to help guide these men during turbulent times, or when they need guidance themselves. Nobody is perfect and everyone needs direction no matter how wise or gifted you are. I am no different, which is why writing this philosophy of leadership is going to be a fruitful experience for years to come.
Throughout The Truth About Leadership; The No-Fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need to Know by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Poser, they discuss the ten truths in regards to leadership and how they impact an individual to become an effective leader. These truths are concepts that can be actively applied to current organizations. By applying these truths to an individual’s organization, it can improve the leadership quality from within and as a whole. Besides the application to an organization, the ten truths compiled by Kouzes and Poser can be used to improve yourself and your leadership skills, whether it be in your personal life or career.
The leadership is a privilege and it is such a privilege and an honor which will carry the tremendous responsibility which will inspire others to direct them to accomplish goals and vision of the organization. Leadership is about influencing the people, by producing direction, purpose and motivating in order to accomplish the mission, vision and improving the organization. The leadership philosophy is evolved based on the experiences, both positive and negative, in most of the initiatives and activities that we undertake. It is also one among the collaboration and teamwork within which the team members can utilize each other’s strengths to counter the weaknesses of the individuals. By observing, introspecting and experimenting we can developed a leadership paradigm which is inclusive, collaborative and proactive. We can develop the ability to recognize which will approach in order to reach the productive conclusion. The great leaders know their limitations and are capable at utilize their strengths and also the strengths of others to compensate.
Maxwell, “The Law of the Lid is the leadership’s ability to determine how well one succeed, in other words, the better one lead, the better one will succeed” John C Maxwell “The Rule of 5 for Lifting Your Lid” (n.d.). The law of the lid is the leader’s ability to define his or her level of efficiency. One’s leadership skills will always define one’s value and effectiveness and the potential influence one has on his or her team members, company or organization. “To lift the lid one has to know the rule of 5, know what one wants to accomplish in life, what are one’s tools and what one is going to use to reach one’s goals, whatever those five things are if one use it five times a day one will be highly successful” John C Maxwell “The Rule of 5 for Lifting Your Lid” (n.d.). To lift the lid one has to be able to know how to lead oneself, for example if one know how to do this, it will help build one’s confidence in leading others and others will look to one for guidance. When one has values, principles, and a positive attitude; one can and will be able to lead others. Second rule to lift the lid is to add value to people every day, for instance, one have to assist people to reach their goals and to get what they need to make them succeed, when one help other to reach their goal, it will make one feel a sense of fulfillment and happiness to know that one had done something for another individual. To be a leader one have to help others. The third rule of
Maxwell explains to us the three ways to bring value and influence to any organization or position we may find ourselves in. The first of these is something Maxwell calls “leading up”. Leading up is the process of influencing those who are in leadership above us. This process includes lightening the load for those above us through being willing to do what others won’t, while knowing when to push forward and when to back off. The second of the three ways to bring value and influence is called “leading across”. Those who are in the middle of an organization are leaders of leaders. These leaders help peers achieve great results, let the best idea win, and garner mutual respect. These leaders must develop and maintain credibility, and continually exert influence. The third way we can bring value and influence to our organization is through “leading down”. Leaders at the top who lead down help people realize their potential, become a strong role model, and encourage others to become part of a higher purpose. This involves walking through the organization, casting the vision, and rewarding others for their
Leadership is defined as a process by which an individual influences others to obtain goals. There are three aspects that should be addressed when explaining leadership. One aspect is that leadership is a social influence process; leadership could not exist without a leader and one or more followers. Another leadership aspect is compliance; all of the leader’s directions must be complied with voluntarily. Compliance is what separates leadership from other influence-based formal authority. Finally, leadership results in the followers’ behavior, that is purposeful and goal-directed which must be in some organized setting (Leadership Theories and Studies, 2009).
Throughout my life I have encountered the chance to experience position of being a leader. Being part of groups in university for class presentations, being the organizing secretary of my campus fellowship, being a youth leader in my church and the church admin, also being part of a family. Leaders are charismatic, inspirational and trust worthy. I have gained some important qualities of being a good leader through these experiences. Most of the valuable leadership’s characteristics that I obtained and strengthened are: learn to become a better leader every day, how to be a team player, to be a better listener, to be an effective communicator, to have more patience, not afraid of constructive criticism, to be outspoken, and to be a problem solver. Even though I have gained a lot, I still have more things to learn to become a better leader such as being more assertive, being more disciplined, becoming a better public speaker, and learn how to be realistic and not too optimistic. You are a leader if someone else choses to follow you.
Chan, K. W. & Maubourgne, R. A. 1992, Parables of leadership, Harvard Business Review, July-August.
It is undeniable, in an honest examination of the world, to deny that leadership will determine the success, or lack of success in almost every endeavor. This holds true for small group projects through the largest possible business venture, and beyond. John Maxwell discusses principles followed by great leaders and utilized by others to increase their own talents. His book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, is a valuable resource to those who seek to improve individual leadership abilities.