The Law Of Solid Ground

Law #6 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law Solid Ground: Trust Is The Foundation Of Leadership

This law notes that trust is the most important characteristic of leadership. “Leaders cannot lose trust and continue to influence other.” Maxwell compares trust to having change in your pocket. Whenever you make good leadership decisions, you get more change in your pocket. When you make a mistake, you give some change up. But, if you deal with that mistake appropriately [admit your mistakes, apologize, etc], you can get additional change as well. Thus, if you have enough change stored, you can even survive a big mistake. However, if your change is spent, even if you make a small mistake, that may be it for you as the leader.

“Character makes trust possible. And trust makes leadership possible. That is the Law of Solid Ground.”

Maxwell lists 3 important things our character communicates to others:

1. Character Communicates Consistency: “If your people don’t know what to expect from you as a leader, at some point they won’t look to you for leadership.”

2. Character Communicates Potential: Despite enormous talent, weak character limits you. Would you attribute more potential to someone who is hard-working, disciplined and honest or to someone who is lazy, deceitful and compromising?

3. Character Communicates Respect: “How do leaders earn respect? By making sound decisions, by admitting their mistakes, and by putting what’s best for their followers and their organization ahead of their personal agendas.”

Applying the Law of Addition to Your Life

1. Assess how trustworthy your followers and colleagues think you are. For your followers- Do they openly share negative, as well as positive thoughts and comments with you? Do they give you bad news as readily as good news? Do they let you know issues that may arise within their area of responsibility? If not, they may not trust your character. For your colleagues- Are they continually entrusting to you weighty responsibilities? If so, it is a good sign. If not, you should determine whether they doubt your competence or your character.
2. What are you doing to develop your character? Many high achievers spend a lot of time and energy developing their professional skills, but not their character. Maxwell recommends focusing on the following:
1. Integrity- commit to be honest, without white lies, without fudging the numbers.
2. Authenticity- be yourself with everyone; don’t play politics or be anyone you’re not.
3. Discipline- do the right things everyday regardless of how you feel.
3. If you have broken trust with others in the past, your leadership will suffer until you make it right. Starting at HOME [if necessary], apologize, and make amends if possible. Then, commit to regain trust…the onus is on YOU.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 6- The Law of Solid Ground. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007