offerbook 4

The Big Idea

Principles are laws that apply across different cultures, generations, and circumstances. John Maxwell, drawing lessons
from his own experiences as well as those of other leaders', has discovered 21 principles for leadership. In each chapter of the book, Maxwell describes each law as a tool that can help people succeed in business, church, sports, and personal endeavors. Anyone in any position, in any field, and in any culture, can learn and practice these laws to become a successful
leader. The learning is made richer by real life illustrations that show how the laws are practiced or violated.

1.The Law of the Lid: Leadership Ability Determines a Person's Level of Effectiveness

Points of the Principle
The Lid represents the limit of our leadership abilities. Hard work, efficient management, and knowledge can only bring us so far. If the lid of one's leadership is low, then the potential for success is also low. The key, then, is not just to work hard
on achieving success but to work hard on raising one's level of leadership. The results: multiplied increase in effectiveness and higher potential for success for the leader as well as the organization.

2. The Law of Influence: The True Measure of Leadership is Influence Nothing More, Nothing Less

Points of the Principle
John Maxwell's favorite leadership proverb is, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.” Leadership is influence; without influence one cannot lead.

Five Myths About Leadership:

1. The Management Myth. Management can maintain direction. Influential leadership is what changes the direction of an organization toward positive change.
2. The Entrepreneur Myth. People may be buying what somebody is selling, but they are not necessarily buying into his leadership or vision.
3. The Knowledge Myth. Mental superiority does not necessarily equate to leadership.
4. The Pioneer Myth. The one in front is not necessarily the leader. The leader is the one with the vision that people want to follow.
5. The Position Myth. Maxwell quotes Stanley Huffty, “It's not the position that makes the leader; it's the leader that makes the position.”

3. The Law of Process Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day

Points of the Principle
In the same way that we invest in the stock market, we should also invest in the process of becoming a leader. No one becomes a leader overnight. Even when someone is gifted with natural abilities, one still has to build one's collection of
leadership skills. There are many facets to leadership, among which are respect, experience, discipline, and vision. To be an effective leader, one must develop these facets. Doing so takes time.

4. The Law of Navigation: Anyone Can Steer the Ship, But It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course

Points of the Principle
The Law of Navigation is about seeing the trip ahead, charting a plan to get to the destination, and remaining focused on the vision. The leader is the one who sees farthest into the future, making him the best person to guide his followers. A navigator
starts with a vision, and then knows what it takes to reach that vision, who they will.

5. The Law of E.F. Hutton: When the Real Leader Speaks, People Listen

Points of the Principle
E.F. Hutton is a financial services company whose motto was, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” Regardless of who has title or position, the leader is the one with the power to command people's attention. The E.F. Hutton of a group can rally
people to a cause. A leader should then be either the E.F. Hutton, the one to whom the group listens; or should learn how to identify the E.F. Hutton of the group, and learn to harness that person's power to get things done.

Seven Key Areas that Reveal Leadership:

1. Character Who They Are
2. Relationships Who They Know
3. Knowledge What They Know
4. Intuition What They Feel
5. Experience What They've Been
6. Past Success What They've Done
7.Ability What They Can Do

6. The Law of Solid Ground: Trust Is the Foundation of Leadership

Point of the Principle
The Law of Solid Ground is about having a foundation of trust, a necessary element of leadership.

Pointers for Practice
Trust is earned and maintained by:
1. The leader's history of success
2. The leader's competence, connection and character
3. The leader's ability to face up to a mistake
4. The leader's ability to put what is best for the followers and the organization
ahead of personal agenda

7. The Law of Respect: People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger Than Themselves

Points of the Principle
The Law of Respect works when people are compelled to follow somebody who is stronger than them. People have the instinct to recognize and follow leadership.

8. The Law of Intuition: Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

Points of the Principle
Leaders cannot rely on just facts. Great leaders have to have intuition. They have to have the instinct to see changes and plan strategies for facing those changes. Intuition can either be innate or developed. Always, it is a combination of natural
abilities and acquired skills.

Pointers for Practice:
Intuition requires a reading of:
1. The Situation
2. Trends
3. Resources
4. People
5.The Selves

Three Levels of Leadership Institution
1. Those Who Naturally See It
2. Those Who Are Nurtured to See It
3.Those Who Will Never See Itx

9. The Law of Magnetism: Who You Are Is Who You Attract

Points of the Principle
A leader attracts people who possess the same characteristics. People tend to flock with people of similar:

Attitude
Generation
Background
Values
Life Experience
Leadership Ability

10. The Law of Connection: Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand

Points of the Principle
Great leaders instinctively know that to lead successfully, they have to touch people's hearts. Moving people into action requires moving them with emotion. Leaders with the power of connection can reach out to individuals as well as
audiences.

11.The Law of the Inner Circle: A Leader's Potential is Determined by Those Closest to Him

Points of the Principle
The strength of the people around a leader determines that leader's potential. No matter how good a leader is, that person has limits. His Inner Circle expands his abilities. A leader's role, then, is to surround himself with good people. He hires them.
He develops them.

12. The Law of Empowerment: Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others

Points of the Principle
A good leader finds other leaders; builds them up; gives them resources, authority, and responsibility; and then lets them go off to achieve. The opposite situation, when a leader undermines his team members and creates barriers that people in his team cannot overcome, are violations of the Law of Empowerment.

13. The Law of Reproduction: It Takes a Leader to Raise Up a Leader

Primary Point of the Principle
Leaders are products of mentoring by other leaders. To develop and empower leaders, one must be a leader too. To continue to develop others as leaders, one needs to become a better leader too. Mentoring of leaders should be one of the
highest priorities of a leader.

14. The Law of Buy-in: People Buy Into the Leader, Then the Vision

Points of the Principle
The way the Law of Buy-In works is: “The leader finds a dream and then the people. The people find the leader, and then the dream.” The leader's credibility is very important.

15. The Law of Victory Leaders find a Way for the Team to Win

Points of the Principle
Victorious leaders cannot accept defeat. So they plan their victory strategy and do everything to carry out the strategy.

Three Components of Victory:
1. Unity of Vision
2. Diversity of Skills
3.A Leader Dedicated to Victory and Raising Players to Their Potential

16. The Law of the Big Mo: Momentum is a Leader's Best Friend

Points of the Principle
To steer a ship, it must first be moving forward. That illustrates the law of the Big Momentum. Momentum is a powerful change agent.

17. The Law of Priorities: Leaders Understand That Activity is Not Necessarily Accomplishment

Points of the Principle
Prioritizing is something leaders will always have to do to focus on and achieve goals. To guide the leader in making or reordering priorities, he can use the 80/20 Pareto Principle or answer the following questions:

1. What is Required?
2. What Gives the Greatest Return?
3. What Brings the Greatest Reward?

18. The Law of Sacrifice: A Leader Must Give Up to Go Up

Points of the Principle
Leadership and success have costs. Leaders are oftentimes faced with the need to give up their rights to think of themselves. Instead, they have to sacrifice for the sake of the organization. Leadership requires sacrifice. Usually, the higher the position,
the higher the sacrifice.

19. The Law of Timing: When to Lead Is As Important As What to Do and Where to Go

Point of the Principle
Success is inevitable when a leader does the right thing at the right time. The success impacts the leader and the organization. When either the action or the timing is wrong, the results are disastrous.

20. The Law of Explosive Growth: To Multiply, Lead Leaders

Point of the Principle
When leader develops followers, the growth rate is one person at a time. But when leaders develop leaders who will develop leaders, growth is multiplied, and the highest possible level of success is achieved.

21. The Law of Legacy: A Leader's Lasting Value is Measured by Succession

Point of the Principle
This law requires leading with both today and tomorrow in mind. By creating a leadership culture, preparing the organization for change, and by planning for smooth succession, a leader can leave a lasting legacy.