21 Days of Learning, Reviewing and Growing

I am going old school for the next 21 days. I busted out a book I have not read since sophomore year at Clemson. John Maxwell’s simple, yet foundational book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.  I’m reviewing one law each day and looking at ways I can better myself and our ministry. I’ll catch you up on the first few days and lessons.

Law 1: The Law of the Lid.

Summary:

There are certain lids on everyone’s potential of leadership that must be removed if greater effectiveness is to be achieved.

Thoughts:

-Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness

-The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be

-Leadership has a multiplying effect. The greater the leadership, the greater the potential for impact

-To reach the highest level of effectiveness, you have to raise the lid(s)

Take-Aways:

What are my lids? 1. Organization: I need better personal and organizational systems and work flows (written down!), priority list (Druckard), and not-to-do list. 2. Focus/Distractions: Similar to above. I need priority list, written schedule’s and accountability to follow through. 3. Attitude and Emotions: I am growing in my ability to control how I react to situations. To help in this the needs are, prayer, memorizing scripture, and time off. 4. Experience/Knowledge: Hopefully I’ll never think “i’ve arrived” and will always have a hunger to learn. Raising this lid will require reading, studying, spending time with other leaders, prayer and time in the Word.

Law 2: The Law of the Influence.

Summary:

Leadership is influence–nothing more

Thoughts:

-Titles don’t have much value when it comes to leading

-Just because you started something, or have a lot of knowledge, or have a position, does not make  you the leader.

-Influence gives you leverage-which is leadership

-Volunteers can not be forced into anything, they have to be influenced. This is leadership in it purest.

Take-Aways:

How can I gain more influence?

-Believing more in people and their abilities

-Empowering them, giving them responsibility

-Living by example and having a moral authority

-Always be learning and growing

-Pull for Clemson