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