How John Maxwell Navigates Leadership
I sent a note to John Maxwell. This is part 2 of his reply.
What do you do to navigate the changes your leadership journey brings to you?
First, I think everyone navigates according to their pain file. When you don’t succeed at something, then it should prompt you to want to grow. For example, one year after I left my first church, I found out that the church had shrunk. I realized that it was because I hadn’t trained or equipped anyone.
I was the problem.
Out of that failure, I learned that I needed to learn to train other leaders so that progress and growth could be sustained whether I was there or not.
The second way I’ve navigated was according to opportunities. With new levels of leadership come new challenges. I’ve tried to see those as an opportunity to grow. The needs of the season dictate how a leader needs to change and grow.
I focused on becoming the person I needed to be to overcome the challenges in front of me.
The third way I navigated was through prayer.
In my experience, there are certain things that I learned only by seeking God.
It was a moment with God in 1976, when I felt called to teach leaders. Through that I started to teach leadership. Over the years, I’ve had many times when God gave me insight into how to overcome an obstacle or solve a problem.
Summary:
Pain, opportunities, and prayer are guiding factors for John Maxwell on his leadership journey.
What guides you on your leadership journey?
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Part 1 of John’s reply: How Leading Changed John Maxwell
John’s latest book: “The Five Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential,” is written in John’s typical style. You’ll find it easy to read, practical, and actionable.
Thank you both John and Dan – I feel blessed to know you, and I feel I know you John, through the teachings of Joyce Meyer – I watched her programs for a long time on God Chanel. Yes, The Holy Spirit is indeed our greatest teacher. He will always prompt us – if we just ask. Always – when ever – in al circumstances – in the best and most astoniching ways. I am often left in awe! It’s also funny and joyous!!!! God has a great sense of humour! Space – distances – time – does not matter. I have a position with much responsability and I have decided to be totally reliant on the wisdom of God. The more I give to Him the better a leader I become. Funny isent it? It sounds to many like beeing iresponsable – Like a child – Hmm – but then again who am I? I know little by my self. Thank you again and have a holiday season full of fun and joy.
This is all true! No one is born the best leader ever, but through living life+prayer, things happen!
Great legacy perspective from Mr. Maxwell! One of the many juggling plates a leader has, is to ensure that once you have left that things not only sustain but get even better without you. That means mentoring, coaching to assist others to that aim.
Perhaps Lau Tzu said it best… “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
What guides you on your leadership journey? This is a great question and I like John’s three points (especially the term “pain file” which I had never conceptualized before). I think it is important to have “guides” that span various amounts of time. Like Suzy Welch’s 10-10-10 plan. Where will my leadership vision take me (and whoever is “with” me) 10 minutes from now? 10 months? 10 years? Many leadership choices that may have immediate payoff in 10 minutes will turn out to have been detrimental 10 months later and utterly forgotten 10 years later. Taking the long view while responding to the short term dynamics.
Dear Dan,
I do agree with John that pain, prayers and opportunity guides leadership journey. These elements guide my leadership journey too, but there are other elements that actually drives my leadership journey. These drives are more powerful than anything elses that shape my journey. These drives are my ” Belief” about myself and my capability. This belief infuses passion and determination. I generally do not accept impossible and love to break rule that are confined in nature. When I see people making effort aimlessly and without full passion, I make out their intention. When our intention is not right, then our effort and determination get weakened. So, right intention is the core of creating passion and determination. I believe that without devotion to God, nothing can be achieved fully. During leadership journey, you need to sacrifice many short term opportunity to achieve long term goal.
So true Ajay Kumar Gupta – 🙂 Passion is essential. If the passion is not there – drop it. Move on.
Thank you for this reminder.
And to think that 30 minutes ago I was wondering what I would read next!
I have been in leadership positions in my past. Right now I have small opportunities to lead but often am a worker more than anything else. What I am learning now is how to be a better follower. There is some pain in the process as my intuitions and insights are not always included in the decision making process but it is all part of God’s plan for me. I needed a lot more humility in order to be ready when he calls me into leadership positions. I’ve learned to be a good and trusted leader you must also be a good and faithful servant.