Having read several of Maxwell's books over the years, I knew I was in for a treat before starting this read. However, what grabbed me about this book is that Maxwell and his team decided to take a couple of years and narrow down the questions most asked about leadership and then compile them categorically into a readable format. The result is a real glimpse into the mindset of John Maxwell, known as one of the top leadership gurus in the world. Add to the fact that he is a Christian and served as a pastor for many years and you have a fascinating read and insight into one of the keenest minds on this important subject of leadership.
The book is broken down into two parts: 1) Questions I Ask and 2) Questions Leaders Ask Me. Under the two parts the following questions are answered:
Questions I Ask
1. Why Are Questions So Important
2. What Questions Do I Ask Myself as a Leader?
3. What Questions Do I Ask My Team Members?
Questions Leaders Ask Me
1. What Must I Do to Lead Myself Successfully?
2. How Does Leadership Work?
3. How Do I Get Started in Leadership?
4. How Do I Resolve Conflict and Lead Challenging People?
5. How Can I Succeed Working Under Poor Leadership?
6. How Can I Successfully Navigate Leadership Transitions?
7. How Can I Develop Leaders?
The three chapters that were most helpful to me were "What Must I Do to Lead Myself Successfully?", "How Do I Resolve Conflict and Lead Challenging People?", "How Can I Successfully Navigate Leadership Transitions?"
I underlined, starred, and marked up so much of this book, I don't know exactly what to include in this review. I do know that if you have any type of leadership role or have a desire to learn leadership, this is a tremendous book. As always with Maxwell's books, this volume is infused with applicable anecdotes and timely quotes.
Here are a few of my favorite parts of the book:
When I was a young leader, I didn't feel wise enough, strong enough, mature enough, competent enough, confident enough, or qualified enough. When I began to be honest with myself, allow my weaknesses to humble me, and go to God for help, I began to change. I became more open and authentic. I was willing to admit my mistakes and weaknesses. I developed appropriate humility, and I began to change and grow...Before I had been unwilling to be wrong, and as a result I had been unable to discover what was right. Isn't it strange how we must surrender being right in order to find what's right, how humility enables us to be authentic, vulnerable, trustworthy, and intimate with others? People are open to those who are open to them.
p.9
If you are a leader, your goal is to lift up your people, not have them lift you up.
p.34
If you are a leader, the true measure of your success is not getting people to work. It's not getting people to work hard. It is getting people to work hard together.
p. 37
If you are a leader and you are not adding value to your team, you need to question whether or not you should even be the leader.
p. 39
Success is a relationship game.
p. 43
Successful leaders don't only take action. Good leaders listen, learn, and then lead.
p. 49
When team members no longer believe that their leader listens to them, they start looking around for someone who will.
p. 52
Asking the question "What do you think?" has often allowed me to lead my organization better than I would have if I had relied only on myself. More than once, members of my team have saved me from making a bad or stupid decision because they saw things I didn't see, relied on experience I didn't have, or shared wisdom they possessed that I lacked. Their thinking has elevated my ability, and for that I am very grateful.
p. 59
Insecure leaders want to have tight reins on everyone and everything...in the end insecure leaders limit their people and their organizations.
p. 92
If you want to become a better leader, become highly relational.
p. 100
It's wonderful when the people believe in the leader; it's more wonderful when the leader believes in the people.
p. 125
Good leaders cultivate themselves through personal growth. They also cultivate relationships and grow teams. That too can be slow and difficult work. It usually takes longer than we expect and it's harder than we hope. But there is no such thing as solitary success. Nothing of significance was ever achieved without people working together.
p. 141
The bottom line on leadership is that its influence. If you want to lead, you must persuade people to work with you. People who think they're leading but have no one following them are only taking a walk.
p. 150
Rewards are motivating. Rules, consequences, and punishment don't do anything to get people going. They merely keep people from doing their worst. If you want people's best, give them incentives for performance.
p. 183
Many poor leaders do not respond well to having their methods questioned.
p. 204
Good leadership works. It's based on invitation, not intimidation.
p. 221
Achievement comes to people who are able to do great things for themselves. Success comes when they lead followers to do great things for them. But a legacy is created only when leaders put their people into a position to do great things without them.
p. 258
Your success is more dependent on your ability to find and attract good people than on anything else.
p. 261
There's only one way to lead leaders. Become a better leader yourself. Good leaders do not follow poor ones. People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves.
p. 283
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| The 5 Levels of Leadership | How Successful People Think | The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth | How Successful People Lead | Today Matters | |
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| Find other top books by #1 New York Times bestselling author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell. | Master the five levels of leadership to become a more influential, respected, and successful leader in this easy-to-read guide by #1 New York Times bestseller John C. Maxwell. | Revolutionize your work and life by changing the way you think through 11 simple keys to develop better clarity, creativity, and effectiveness. | In this inspiring guide to successful leadership, New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell shares his tried and true principles for maximum personal growth. | In this perfectly compact read, #1 New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell explains how true leadership works. | Master what #1 New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell calls the daily dozen—12 decisions and disciplines you can do each day to cultivate success in your own life. |
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