Law #12 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law of Empowerment: Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others
“If leaders want to be successful, they have to be willing to empower others.” Maxwell notes that, in order to effectively lead others, we have to help them reach their potential. This relates to the Law of Addition and adding value. However, a leader has to be secure in order to accomplish this, since empowering others includes giving them some power.
Barriers to Empowerment
“Only empowered people can reach their potential. When a leader can’t or won’t empower others, he creates barriers within the organization that followers cannot overcome. If the barriers remain long enough, then the people give up and stop trying, or they go to another organization where they can realize their potential.”
Why leaders fail to empower others:
1. Desire for Job Security?: “The #1 enemy of empowerment is the fear of losing what we have.” There is a paradox to the Law of Empowerment- “The only way to make yourself indispensable is to make yourself dispensable.”
2. Resistance to Change: As we get older, we tend to resist change. But, “change is the price of progress.” We have to train ourselves to embrace and desire change.
3. Lack of Self-Worth: Self conscious people are usually so focused on themselves that they do not make good leaders. They cannot give power to others because they do feel like they have any themselves.
The Power of Empowerment
• The main ingredient is belief in others. If you believe in others, they will believe in themselves.
• Encouragement from someone you respect is quite empowering. It makes you feel appreciated and validates you, which adds to your self worth. In turn, you regard the person who encouraged you even more.
• “Empowerment is powerful- not only for the person being developed but also for the mentor. Enlarging others makes you larger.”
Applying the Law of Empowerment to Your Life
1. Do you believe in yourself? How do you characterize yourself regarding self worth? Are you confident? Do you have value and feel that you generally have positive things to offer? If you do not, or rate lowly in this area, you will have a hard time with the Law of Empowerment. You need to take steps to add value to yourself and/or explore why you are lacking self worth.
2. Do you believe in others? Make a list of the people in your team [or those closest to you]. Rate each on a scale of 1-10 based on potential [not current ability]. If the ratings are low, you likely have problems believing in others and seeing their potential. Start thinking about each person and his/her positive attributes. What are their greatest strengths and how could those attributes be leveraged to accomplish goals.
3. If your natural inclination is to build and then hold onto power, you will need to transition to become an empowering leader. Start with choosing your best people and set them up for success. Provide training and resources and help them set and accomplish goals. If they fail, help them keep trying until they succeed.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 12- The Law of Empowerment. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Word Is Alive
Hebrews Chapter 4:
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
It is truly amazing that we have a Word, a tool, a guide, written more than generations and generations ago- that pertains to us today. A Word that corrected someone 3000 years ago, corrects us today. A Word that encourgaed someone 2000 years ago, encourages us today. A Word that describes a Love that sacrificed His own life for a sinner back then, tells us that that same Love is for us too!
Who else?...What else has this?! This rod and staff which comforts us? This assurance?
Thank You, Lord, for giving us You in this living and active way. Please use this Word, this part of You, to help us to know You! - Amen
In Him.
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
It is truly amazing that we have a Word, a tool, a guide, written more than generations and generations ago- that pertains to us today. A Word that corrected someone 3000 years ago, corrects us today. A Word that encourgaed someone 2000 years ago, encourages us today. A Word that describes a Love that sacrificed His own life for a sinner back then, tells us that that same Love is for us too!
Who else?...What else has this?! This rod and staff which comforts us? This assurance?
Thank You, Lord, for giving us You in this living and active way. Please use this Word, this part of You, to help us to know You! - Amen
In Him.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
We Need To Own It
Openness by the leader paves the way for ownership by the people. Without ownership, changes will be short term. Changing people’s habits and ways of thinking is like writing instructions in the snow during a snowstorm. Every twenty minutes the instructions must be rewritten, unless ownership is given along with instructions. [John Maxwell]
Friday, June 18, 2010
Who Is Our Help?
I lift up my eyes to the hills- from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, not the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. -Psalm 121
Think about how unsettling and stressful it is to feel afraid….yet how comforting and peaceful it is to feel safe.
It’s like walking along a strange, dark street, all alone- and then noticing a police officer standing up ahead. You feel relieved, safer.
It’s like being at home, alone and hearing a strange noise outside- and then realizing it was a stray cat getting into your garbage can. You feel relieved, safer.
It’s like having an abnormal finding from your last doctor’s visit that requires ‘further testing’- and then finding out that it’s ‘nothing’ and everything is fine. You feel relieved, safer.
It’s like these things – but so much more.
Not only are we protected in this world – but in the next. Our souls are His and He will keep us safe forever.
It is so nice to know that we have, not just any protector, but THE protector.
The One who made the heaven and the earth.
He who keeps us will not slumber. God’s got our back!
-In Him
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, not the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. -Psalm 121
Think about how unsettling and stressful it is to feel afraid….yet how comforting and peaceful it is to feel safe.
It’s like walking along a strange, dark street, all alone- and then noticing a police officer standing up ahead. You feel relieved, safer.
It’s like being at home, alone and hearing a strange noise outside- and then realizing it was a stray cat getting into your garbage can. You feel relieved, safer.
It’s like having an abnormal finding from your last doctor’s visit that requires ‘further testing’- and then finding out that it’s ‘nothing’ and everything is fine. You feel relieved, safer.
It’s like these things – but so much more.
Not only are we protected in this world – but in the next. Our souls are His and He will keep us safe forever.
It is so nice to know that we have, not just any protector, but THE protector.
The One who made the heaven and the earth.
He who keeps us will not slumber. God’s got our back!
-In Him
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Is It In The Lord, Or Is It In Vain?
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.
-Psalm 127:1-2
Our lives are so busy, so full.
But, with what?
What is it that fills our days?
Why is it that so many of us just don’t have time?
We need to take an inventory of each thing we do- is it of God, or not?
Simple…but not easy.
Unless God is driving, we are going nowhere.
Much of our stress surely comes from trying to juggle things that we are doing outside of God’s will for us…including some church and charity activities. We think that just because the activity is ‘Godly,’ then God must want us to do it….not necessarily. Of course, we need to serve. But what we do and how much of it we do…should be determined by the Holy Spirit. Imagine if we were only doing what God directed us to do. Would we seem to have a little more time? Be a little [a lot] less stressed? Be more productive? Feel more fulfilled?
Simple…but not easy.
-In Him
Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.
-Psalm 127:1-2
Our lives are so busy, so full.
But, with what?
What is it that fills our days?
Why is it that so many of us just don’t have time?
We need to take an inventory of each thing we do- is it of God, or not?
Simple…but not easy.
Unless God is driving, we are going nowhere.
Much of our stress surely comes from trying to juggle things that we are doing outside of God’s will for us…including some church and charity activities. We think that just because the activity is ‘Godly,’ then God must want us to do it….not necessarily. Of course, we need to serve. But what we do and how much of it we do…should be determined by the Holy Spirit. Imagine if we were only doing what God directed us to do. Would we seem to have a little more time? Be a little [a lot] less stressed? Be more productive? Feel more fulfilled?
Simple…but not easy.
-In Him
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Law of The Inner Circle
Law #11 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law of The Inner Circle: A Leader’s Potential Is Determined By Those Closest To Him
“Nobody does anything great alone.” Leaders do have to have talent and skills. They have to perform. However, “without a good team, they often do not get the opportunity. Their potential is determined by those closest to them.” No one does everything well. Even just considering the 21 Laws in this book- no one person will master them all…which is a main reason why we need a team.
Who should be in your inner circle?
Maxwell notes that most people create inner circles of people. However, most are not strategic about it. We often surround ourselves with people like us. But, truly effective leaders will also incorporates those who are different, who complement them, who are strong where the leader is weak. This needs to be an intentional process. As you consider who should be in your inner circle, ask yourself the following questions. If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of them, then the person you are considering is an excellent candidate.
1. Do they have high influence with others?: Drawing influencers into your inner circle will make you more effective. As you influence them, they will help influence others.
2. Do they bring a complementary gift to the table?: You want members of your inner circle to possess strengths where you are weak.
3. Do they hold a strategic position?: As you influence those in strategic positions, they will directly be able to act on, implement, manage and maintain what is aligned with your vision.
4. Do they add value?: You want “lifters” and not “leaners.”
5. Do they positively impact other inner circle members?: This relates to team chemistry. If your inner circle is going to work together effectively as a team, you need to consider how they interact.
Never stop improving your inner circle.• - No leader starts out with a strong inner circle.
• Usually, upon taking on a new position, a leader has to build the inner circle- and should be intentional about it. .
• The goal is to have an inner circle of high performers who either extend your influence beyond your reach or help you grow and become a better leader.
• However, you should always be reevaluating and looking to add to your circle, as you and your organization grows.
How to increase your capacity and maximize your potential as a leader:
1. Become the best leader you can.
2. Surround yourself with the best leaders you can find.
Applying the Law of The Inner Circle to Your Life
1. Your inner circle members are those whom you seek for advice, turn to for support and rely on to help you get things done. This may be all your employees, if you lead a small staff. List their names. Next to each, write what that person contributes and/or what s/he has the potential to contribute. Identify holes or duplications. Then look for people to fill holes and ways to eliminate duplications. Be ready to challenge current members with potential to rise to your expectations.
2. Great inner circles are made intentionally and should be continually developed:
a. Spend extra time to strategically mentor and develop relationships.
b. Give extra responsibility and place higher expectations.
c. Give more credit when things go well and hold accountable when they don’t.
Make sure you are taking these steps with your inner circle members, as well as with those whom you are considering bringing in.
3. As your staff becomes larger, you will not [be able to] have all of them as part of your inner circle. You will then transition and maintain your inner circle as a ‘team within a team.’ Guidelines for this transition:
a. When your immediate staff is more than 7.
b. When you can no longer directly lead everyone.
c. In a volunteer situation- when others besides paid staff should be in the inner circle.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 11- The Law of The Inner Circle. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
The Law of The Inner Circle: A Leader’s Potential Is Determined By Those Closest To Him
“Nobody does anything great alone.” Leaders do have to have talent and skills. They have to perform. However, “without a good team, they often do not get the opportunity. Their potential is determined by those closest to them.” No one does everything well. Even just considering the 21 Laws in this book- no one person will master them all…which is a main reason why we need a team.
Who should be in your inner circle?
Maxwell notes that most people create inner circles of people. However, most are not strategic about it. We often surround ourselves with people like us. But, truly effective leaders will also incorporates those who are different, who complement them, who are strong where the leader is weak. This needs to be an intentional process. As you consider who should be in your inner circle, ask yourself the following questions. If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of them, then the person you are considering is an excellent candidate.
1. Do they have high influence with others?: Drawing influencers into your inner circle will make you more effective. As you influence them, they will help influence others.
2. Do they bring a complementary gift to the table?: You want members of your inner circle to possess strengths where you are weak.
3. Do they hold a strategic position?: As you influence those in strategic positions, they will directly be able to act on, implement, manage and maintain what is aligned with your vision.
4. Do they add value?: You want “lifters” and not “leaners.”
5. Do they positively impact other inner circle members?: This relates to team chemistry. If your inner circle is going to work together effectively as a team, you need to consider how they interact.
Never stop improving your inner circle.• - No leader starts out with a strong inner circle.
• Usually, upon taking on a new position, a leader has to build the inner circle- and should be intentional about it. .
• The goal is to have an inner circle of high performers who either extend your influence beyond your reach or help you grow and become a better leader.
• However, you should always be reevaluating and looking to add to your circle, as you and your organization grows.
How to increase your capacity and maximize your potential as a leader:
1. Become the best leader you can.
2. Surround yourself with the best leaders you can find.
Applying the Law of The Inner Circle to Your Life
1. Your inner circle members are those whom you seek for advice, turn to for support and rely on to help you get things done. This may be all your employees, if you lead a small staff. List their names. Next to each, write what that person contributes and/or what s/he has the potential to contribute. Identify holes or duplications. Then look for people to fill holes and ways to eliminate duplications. Be ready to challenge current members with potential to rise to your expectations.
2. Great inner circles are made intentionally and should be continually developed:
a. Spend extra time to strategically mentor and develop relationships.
b. Give extra responsibility and place higher expectations.
c. Give more credit when things go well and hold accountable when they don’t.
Make sure you are taking these steps with your inner circle members, as well as with those whom you are considering bringing in.
3. As your staff becomes larger, you will not [be able to] have all of them as part of your inner circle. You will then transition and maintain your inner circle as a ‘team within a team.’ Guidelines for this transition:
a. When your immediate staff is more than 7.
b. When you can no longer directly lead everyone.
c. In a volunteer situation- when others besides paid staff should be in the inner circle.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 11- The Law of The Inner Circle. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Things Into Which Angels Long to Look
We have such a precious gift in the salvation given to us by our Lord. This is a gift about which the great prophets spoke of, at their own ridicule and rejection and peril. A gift that they knew would be so great, so merciful. This is a gift that even the angels wanted to know about...and it has been given to us! ...to any of us who believe Him and believe in Him. So, let's remember just how special we are to be His! We have been so blessed with the most unimaginable gift- into which the angles long to look...
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven- things into which angels long to look!
-1 Peter 1:10-12
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven- things into which angels long to look!
-1 Peter 1:10-12
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Law of Connection
Law #10 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law Connection: Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand.
“The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader.” Maxwell notes with this law that, in order for a leader to be effective, s/he needs to connect with people. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Guidelines for Connecting:
1. Connect with yourself: You need to know and have confidence in yourself. People do not want to follow an unsure leader. Be confident and be yourself. If you do not believe in who you are and where you want to lead, work on that first [before doing anything else].
2. Communicate with openness and sincerity: People can sense insincerity.
3. Know your audience: Take time to know their names and find out about their histories. Find out about their dreams/goals. Speak to what they care about.
4. Live your message: This is most important. It builds credibility; hypocrisy weakens it.
5. Go to where they are: You need to adapt to them [not the other way around]. Try to relate to them based on their culture, education, background, etc.
6. Focus on them, not yourself: You will always connect faster when you focus on the other person, in any relationship [business or personal]. Focusing too much on him/herself is the biggest problem of inexperienced speakers and leaders.
7. Believe in them: “It’s one thing to communicate with others because you have something valuable to say, it’s another to communicate with them because they have value. People’s opinion of us has less to do with what they see in us than it does with what we can help them see in themselves.”
8. Offer direction and hope: While, people expect leaders to help them get to where they need to go, giving them hope is what gives a future.
It’s the Leader’s Job
• The effective leader will not only initiate the connection with the employee/team, s/he will also intentionally maintain it. Contrast this to the leader who feels like since it is s/he on top, others need to go to him/her.
• If you want someone on your side, don’t try to convince that person..try to connect with him/her.
• Never underestimate the power of making connections/building relationships. Since, when done sincerely, it will breed loyalty and a strong work ethic. Your vision will become their aspiration.
• “To lead yourself, use your head. To lead others, use your heart.”
Applying the Law of Connection to Your Life
1. Connecting with yourself means knowing and liking yourself. Assess this by measuring your self awareness. Answer the following questions:
a. How would I describe my personality?
b. What is my greatest character strength?
c. What is my greatest character weakness?
d. What is my single greatest asset?
e. What is my single greatest deficit?
f. How well do I relate to others (1-10)?
g. How well so I communicate with others?
h. How likable am I (1-10)?
Now, ask three people who know you well to answer them and compare. If there is a significant difference, then you have a blind spot that you need to overcome. Enlist a mentor or accountability partner to help you become more self aware, value your strengths and deal with your weaknesses.
2. Move through the crowd slowly. Before getting down to business, take a few minutes to connect relationally with your team members/employees. It does take time, but likely just a few minutes [will take more time with new people, as you get to know them]. But the payoff is huge and makes the workplace a better place.
3. Good leaders are good communicators. On a scale of 1-10, how effective a public speaker are you? If lower than an 8, you need to improve. Read books on communication and practice the skills. If you do not have opportunity at work, then volunteer.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 10- The Law of Conncection. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
The Law Connection: Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand.
“The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader.” Maxwell notes with this law that, in order for a leader to be effective, s/he needs to connect with people. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Guidelines for Connecting:
1. Connect with yourself: You need to know and have confidence in yourself. People do not want to follow an unsure leader. Be confident and be yourself. If you do not believe in who you are and where you want to lead, work on that first [before doing anything else].
2. Communicate with openness and sincerity: People can sense insincerity.
3. Know your audience: Take time to know their names and find out about their histories. Find out about their dreams/goals. Speak to what they care about.
4. Live your message: This is most important. It builds credibility; hypocrisy weakens it.
5. Go to where they are: You need to adapt to them [not the other way around]. Try to relate to them based on their culture, education, background, etc.
6. Focus on them, not yourself: You will always connect faster when you focus on the other person, in any relationship [business or personal]. Focusing too much on him/herself is the biggest problem of inexperienced speakers and leaders.
7. Believe in them: “It’s one thing to communicate with others because you have something valuable to say, it’s another to communicate with them because they have value. People’s opinion of us has less to do with what they see in us than it does with what we can help them see in themselves.”
8. Offer direction and hope: While, people expect leaders to help them get to where they need to go, giving them hope is what gives a future.
It’s the Leader’s Job
• The effective leader will not only initiate the connection with the employee/team, s/he will also intentionally maintain it. Contrast this to the leader who feels like since it is s/he on top, others need to go to him/her.
• If you want someone on your side, don’t try to convince that person..try to connect with him/her.
• Never underestimate the power of making connections/building relationships. Since, when done sincerely, it will breed loyalty and a strong work ethic. Your vision will become their aspiration.
• “To lead yourself, use your head. To lead others, use your heart.”
Applying the Law of Connection to Your Life
1. Connecting with yourself means knowing and liking yourself. Assess this by measuring your self awareness. Answer the following questions:
a. How would I describe my personality?
b. What is my greatest character strength?
c. What is my greatest character weakness?
d. What is my single greatest asset?
e. What is my single greatest deficit?
f. How well do I relate to others (1-10)?
g. How well so I communicate with others?
h. How likable am I (1-10)?
Now, ask three people who know you well to answer them and compare. If there is a significant difference, then you have a blind spot that you need to overcome. Enlist a mentor or accountability partner to help you become more self aware, value your strengths and deal with your weaknesses.
2. Move through the crowd slowly. Before getting down to business, take a few minutes to connect relationally with your team members/employees. It does take time, but likely just a few minutes [will take more time with new people, as you get to know them]. But the payoff is huge and makes the workplace a better place.
3. Good leaders are good communicators. On a scale of 1-10, how effective a public speaker are you? If lower than an 8, you need to improve. Read books on communication and practice the skills. If you do not have opportunity at work, then volunteer.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 10- The Law of Conncection. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Living Word
Hebrews Chapter 4:
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
This is awesome. Words that were written thousands of years ago are still pertinent today. This Word lives. It is a living, breathing, energy consuming entity that has the humbling Power to touch us in just the way we need to be touched. With this Word, we can always expect a lesson, teaching us what the Lord intends to teach us at any given moment. We should remain ever thankful and meek at the thought of this Word, a dynamic force in the life of those who fear Him.
Thank you, Lord, for loving us so much that you gave us a perpetual Word from you that we have as our standard and marker for the who, what , when, where and why of our lives.
In Him
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
This is awesome. Words that were written thousands of years ago are still pertinent today. This Word lives. It is a living, breathing, energy consuming entity that has the humbling Power to touch us in just the way we need to be touched. With this Word, we can always expect a lesson, teaching us what the Lord intends to teach us at any given moment. We should remain ever thankful and meek at the thought of this Word, a dynamic force in the life of those who fear Him.
Thank you, Lord, for loving us so much that you gave us a perpetual Word from you that we have as our standard and marker for the who, what , when, where and why of our lives.
In Him
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
The Law of Magnetism
Law #9 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law Magnetism: Who You Are Is Who You Attract
We all have some idea of the qualities we’d like to see in the people in our organization. Who we attract is not determined by what we want, but by who we are. Birds of a feather flock together.
Where do they match up?
Attracting others like you does not mean you have no differences. People are all individuals. There will always be differences. However, there are some key areas where you will notice that leaders and followers will have a lot of common ground.
1. Generation: Employees in an organization usually reflect the age/generation of the key leaders.
2. Attitude: This is one of the most contagious qualities a human possesses. Both positive and negative attitudes are contagious. Positive people usually do not want to hang out with negative people. A leader’s team usually reflects this.
3. Background: People feel most comfortable with others with a similar background, socially and in business. This can be so strong that organizations that value diversity have to fight against it and be intentional about embracing certain differences.
4. Values: Whether your values are positive and inspirational [eg John F Kennedy] or evil and oppressive [eg Adolf Hitler], you will attract others with similar values.
5. Energy: Energy level is also usually a common thread among those in an organization…which is actually good- High energy people tend to think low energy people are lazy and low energy people think high energy people are crazy.
6. Giftedness: People are attracted to others whom they value and consider to be stronger than themselves. People gifted in the same areas as you will truly value and appreciate your excellence in those area and will be attracted to you.
7. Leadership Ability: This is similar to the Law of Respect- people naturally follow leaders that are stronger than they.
Going Against the Grain
• For those saying: “I am not crazy about the people I am attracting. Am I stuck in this situation?” – The answer is no. If you are dissatisfied with the leadership ability of your team, look at your leadership ability. As you grow as a leader, you will attract/grow stronger leaders. If you are dissatisfied with the character of your team, examine your own character. Developing a stronger character for yourself will not only help your organization, attracting others with strong character, it will improve all areas of your life.
• For those saying: “I like who I am and the kind of people I attract.” – Great! Now, focus on taking your leadership and organization to the next level. Work at recruiting people different from you to supplement your weaknesses. Otherwise, key issues will go overlooked in your organization. It is possible for a leader to recruit others different from him/her, but they are not the people the leader naturally attracts. Thus, this has to be an intentional process.
Applying the Law of Magnetism to Your Life
1. Make a list of the qualities you would like in the people on your team. Next, for each characteristic, place a check mark next to it if you also possess it, or an X if you do not. If you have many X’s, there is a problem, because the people you describe are not the type who will follow you.
2. Think about why you desire these qualities. Are these qualities that you have or do not have? If there is a disparity between your image of yourself and your team, you may have a self awareness problem. Consult with a trusted friend or colleague to try to identify your blind-spots.
3. Based on who you are attracting, you may need to work on your own leadership and/or character [see above/previous section]. Find mentors who can help you. The mentor should be someone you respect, ideally in the same professional field as you and several steps ahead of you in his/her career.
4. If you are already attracting the kind of people you want, now work on diversifying and finding those different from you to complement your weaknesses. Write a list of your 5 greatest strengths and 5 greatest weaknesses. Start to build a profile of someone you would like on your team based on your weaknesses. Add to the profile the values and attitudes similar to yours, as well as someone who has good leadership potential.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 9- The Law of Magnetism. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
The Law Magnetism: Who You Are Is Who You Attract
We all have some idea of the qualities we’d like to see in the people in our organization. Who we attract is not determined by what we want, but by who we are. Birds of a feather flock together.
Where do they match up?
Attracting others like you does not mean you have no differences. People are all individuals. There will always be differences. However, there are some key areas where you will notice that leaders and followers will have a lot of common ground.
1. Generation: Employees in an organization usually reflect the age/generation of the key leaders.
2. Attitude: This is one of the most contagious qualities a human possesses. Both positive and negative attitudes are contagious. Positive people usually do not want to hang out with negative people. A leader’s team usually reflects this.
3. Background: People feel most comfortable with others with a similar background, socially and in business. This can be so strong that organizations that value diversity have to fight against it and be intentional about embracing certain differences.
4. Values: Whether your values are positive and inspirational [eg John F Kennedy] or evil and oppressive [eg Adolf Hitler], you will attract others with similar values.
5. Energy: Energy level is also usually a common thread among those in an organization…which is actually good- High energy people tend to think low energy people are lazy and low energy people think high energy people are crazy.
6. Giftedness: People are attracted to others whom they value and consider to be stronger than themselves. People gifted in the same areas as you will truly value and appreciate your excellence in those area and will be attracted to you.
7. Leadership Ability: This is similar to the Law of Respect- people naturally follow leaders that are stronger than they.
Going Against the Grain
• For those saying: “I am not crazy about the people I am attracting. Am I stuck in this situation?” – The answer is no. If you are dissatisfied with the leadership ability of your team, look at your leadership ability. As you grow as a leader, you will attract/grow stronger leaders. If you are dissatisfied with the character of your team, examine your own character. Developing a stronger character for yourself will not only help your organization, attracting others with strong character, it will improve all areas of your life.
• For those saying: “I like who I am and the kind of people I attract.” – Great! Now, focus on taking your leadership and organization to the next level. Work at recruiting people different from you to supplement your weaknesses. Otherwise, key issues will go overlooked in your organization. It is possible for a leader to recruit others different from him/her, but they are not the people the leader naturally attracts. Thus, this has to be an intentional process.
Applying the Law of Magnetism to Your Life
1. Make a list of the qualities you would like in the people on your team. Next, for each characteristic, place a check mark next to it if you also possess it, or an X if you do not. If you have many X’s, there is a problem, because the people you describe are not the type who will follow you.
2. Think about why you desire these qualities. Are these qualities that you have or do not have? If there is a disparity between your image of yourself and your team, you may have a self awareness problem. Consult with a trusted friend or colleague to try to identify your blind-spots.
3. Based on who you are attracting, you may need to work on your own leadership and/or character [see above/previous section]. Find mentors who can help you. The mentor should be someone you respect, ideally in the same professional field as you and several steps ahead of you in his/her career.
4. If you are already attracting the kind of people you want, now work on diversifying and finding those different from you to complement your weaknesses. Write a list of your 5 greatest strengths and 5 greatest weaknesses. Start to build a profile of someone you would like on your team based on your weaknesses. Add to the profile the values and attitudes similar to yours, as well as someone who has good leadership potential.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 9- The Law of Magnetism. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007
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