John Maxwell's Life and Leadership Views

John Maxwell is a well-renown Christian author, speaker, and leadership expert. He has sold well over 16 million books and has trained more than 2 million leaders. His expertise has landed him speaking in front of many Fortune 500 companies, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and even ambassadors to the United Nations.

John earned a bachelor's degree at Ohio Christian University, a Master of Divinity degree at Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. He went on to pastor at churches in Indiana, Ohio, and California.

As John's career blossomed, the eventual result was the founding of two currently thriving leadership organizations: EQUIP and INJOY. EQUIP is a non-profit, international group dedicated to developing leadership in the church, academia, and the urban community. INJOY is similar operations focused on helping leaders maximize their potential in ministry, business, and family. A major facet of these efforts are John's seminars and conferences, in which he offers valuable instruction to everybody from ordained ministers to corporate executives to concerned parents. Other mediums for teaching are his best-selling books and videos.

John has written three books, each selling more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Other books include: Leadership Promises for Every Day, Attitude 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know, Thinking for a Change, Teamwork Makes the Dream Work, and The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player.

He and his wife of over thirty years, Margaret, reside in South Florida.

Author John Maxwell understands the principles of developing people and he shares those principles in his books to (1) develop the qualities of an effective leader, (2) Understand and help people with difficult personalities and (3) Use our skills to inspire others to excellence and success.

Chapter 2: Highlights of Discussion

John Maxwell's general leadership principles

John Maxwell believes that there are 5 non-negotiable characteristics that effective leaders must have:

1. An effective leader must feel a sense of calling

True leaders feel an inner urging to take their positions: they feel a sense of responsibility

- For the church leader or pastor, there is a specific calling from God; a deep innate feeling, or desire that causes him to do what he is called to perform.

- For the business leader, there is an urging to rise to the challenge, to take the helm to move forward

- For the school leader , there must be a sense of responsibility in handling our faculty and students correctly

In Isaiah 6:1-9 we find a vivid example of a man specifically called by God. In verses 1-5, Isaiah experiences a discovery of himself. People who are called to discover something bigger than themselves: a mission, a challenge, a goal, or a movement that draws them unto an arena. In verses 6-7 we find that a leader experiences an assurance that he will be adequate for the work. This forestate the victory enables them to continue on their mission and overcome obstacles in the way. In verse 8 Isaiah is offered opportunity "whom shall I send and who will go for us?" and he replied in verse 9 "here I am send me." This desire within the leader's heart is what John call the have to feeling. A sense of having to declare something, point in some direction, lead others on a mission.

What about the person who is not in Christian ministry?

John believes that God places each of us in areas where we can use our gifts and influence others for his sake. A man might be called to begin a business for instance. He knows where he puts his money, credit, even his credibility right on the line. There is something within him that drives him and compels him. John believes that a person can be a good leader but not a great one.

How do you sense that a leader is called?

John gives us one clue that could leaders have a listing quality; they don't quit and couldn't if they wanted to. Also the anointed people have the right answers; the God who called and equipped them.

2. An effective leader must be able to communicate

a. How do you transfer a vision

i. First, you must SEE it yourself very clearly you can't transfer something that you can't see/

ii. Then you must able to SAY it creatively so that people may understand and can grab and held of it

iii. And finally, you must be able to SHOW it constantly. It must be continually placed before the followers as a reminder of the goal.

3. An effective leader is creative in handling problems.

Everyone faces problems. The ability to find solutions will determine the success or failure of each difficulty. John said that traditional thinkers don't realize that creative thinkers don't realize that creative thinkers are the geniuses of the world.

4. An effective leader is a generous contributor

The measure of a leader is not the number of people who serve him but the number of people who serves. Real leaders have something to give and they give it freely. Consider the comments of William Arthur Ward of Text Wesleyan College in Forth Worth Texas : " If we are wise, you will forget yourself into greatness. Forget your rights, but remember your responsibilities. Forget your inconveniences, but remember your blessings. Forget your accomplishments, but remember your debts to others. Forget your privileges but remember your obligations"

5. An effective leader acts consistently

A leader must be consistent in 3 areas: (1) PEOPLE - this builds security, (2) PRINCIPLE- This provide direction and (3) PROJECTS- This builds morale. Leaders let people know where they are coming from. The call to be leaders is challenging one.

Chapter 3: Understanding difficult personalities

In Matthew 7:1-5 "why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but do not notice the log that is in your eye? First take the log out of your eye" Jesus is telling us that we need to deal first with our own attitude before criticizing others. In Matthew 22:39 we read that Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as yourself. He knew that if we truly love ourselves, we would also love our neighbor.

A. Understanding Personality types

There are several types of difficult people, and it's helpful to identify their common traits in order to learn with them effectively. There are 5 general rules which you can put into practice that will enable you to work more effectively with problem. (1) Love them unconditionally (2) Ask God for wisdom in working with them (3) Stay emotionally healthy yourself. (4) Do not elevate people to positions of leadership in order to rescue them. (5) Be honest with God

B. Problems in relationship

In a confrontation we must handle it correctly because it can strengthen the relationship, if not; it can bring an abrupt, unhappy end to the relationship. In order for this to happen follow these 6 guidelines of John:

1. Bring in Principle persons involved in the Conflict

Experience has taught unless all persons involved come together the whole story will never be piece together.

2. Line up the facts

Relying on the hearsay evidence or general impressions will only invite emotion laden rebuttals and possibly resentful counteracts.

3. Never Reprimand while angry

Make sure you are in control of emotions. The angrier you are the less the objective you'll be and the less effective tour reprimand.

4. Be Precise about the offense

Let the person know exactly why he charge is. Don't try to open the blow by hemming and hawing or refusing to cough up the details.

5. Get the Persons other side of the story

Always give the offender the chance to explain what happened and why they behave as they did.

6. Be sure you keep comprehensive records

Sometimes we need to record specific details of our mistakes, when it happened and why it happened in order for us to study and reflect on our mistakes and for us not to repeat the same.

Chapter 4: YOU CAN BE AN ENCOURAGER

John said that "Behavior that is rewarded is behavior that will continue"

1. Reward in action

We have to determine what kind of behavior is needed to be rewarded and deserve encouragement.

2. Qualities that deserve a reward

a. A positive attitude

b. Loyalty

c. Personal growth

d. Creativity

e. Risk taking

f. Applied activity

g. Decisive action

3. TOP 10 REWARDS

a. Money- money does not talk; it tells individuals that how valuable he is to whoever pays his salary. The Bible also says that the worker is worthy of his wage (1 Timothy 5: 18), This verse only means The laborer is worthy of his reward. Quoted from Lu 10:7. Paul says it is Scripture. Therefore, Luke's Gospel was already written and in Paul's hands when this Epistle was written. He calls this Gospel Scripture. Peter applies the same term to Paul's writings (2Pe 3:16).

b. Recognition- continual affirmation, in order for us to have a strong organization we must learn to give the credit or the benefit where the credit is due. And we must recognize our members for every good work they done because every member of an organization can contribute or destroy the principles of your organization. And through recognition we can encourage them to do more for the good of our school or organization.

c. Time off- One kind of recognizing our subordinates is meeting their needs especially their physical and spiritual needs, we as leaders, we must give our subordinates time to rest or to be with their family or meeting their spiritual needs by going to church. As God done it after He created all His creations including us. And also it is emphasized in the first half of the 10 commandments as stated, "We must respect the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." Respecting our subordinates' physical and spiritual needs is the key for a blessed and strong organization.

d. A piece of the action- as explained in point 2 that we must learn to give the credit or the benefit where the credit is due and to recognize every single task your subordinates has done for the good of your organization

e. Favorite work- assigning people tasks that they enjoy to do

f. Advancement- allows only your producer to advance and move forward, not your workers.

g. Freedom- give producers the autonomy to their jobs in the way they feel most comfortable.

h. Personal Growth opportunities- opportunity of further career education

i. Special time together- take time to socialize over a meal in order to affirm someone's productivity.

j. Gifts- gift that would be meaningful shows a productive person that you appreciate him or her.

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION

As a summary for this research. The only thing that Dr. Maxwell is teaching us in leadership is that we need to have a sense of responsibility and concern to our subordinates, Responsibility means a leader must recognize the ONE who called him to do the leadership by becoming accountable to God on the things he will perform and instruct to his members. And being concerned to his member's personal, emotional, and spiritual needs. Dr. Maxwell also emphasized in his principles that we need to understand our member's difficulties by following the principles he wrote and by becoming patient and understanding to our members. As the Bible says that patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-22). And as a leader, we can encourage others to work more by recognizing his/her craft through rewarding their action. As our general manual in life, the Bible says in I Timothy 5:18 "For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." In other versions they translated as "The worker is worthy of his double-honor." The Greek word used in this verse for double honor is time. Time means honor, respect and recognition. One way of recognizing your members' craft is through giving them a just salary. For the members of a school, let me leave you with a Bible verse which says that we need to follow our God's constituted authority. Romans 13Submission to the Authorities

¹Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

And in every thing we do, we must give back the glory to our Great and ever living God for He gave us the wisdom and the strength we needed to perform the work (I Corinthians 10:31). And also in every recognition we must give thank to God. For the Bible says, " In everything give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18). And we must contented in every thing we have and believing that our God shall supply our needs according to His glorious riches (Phil. 4:13).

CHAPTER 6: IMPLICATION to ADMINISTRATION

Maxwell's leadership principles impact on different fields where leadership and administration is needed (e.g. business, school, church, etc.). To summarize Maxwell's leadership principles, we need to understand 3 things that we should remember in order for us to have an effective and productive leadership.

First, in our leadership, we must put God first in our decision making and we must learn to depend on Him because we, as believers of Jesus Christ, we believe that God is the author and molder of our faith and things we need to do in order for us to walk in our lives. As I Corinthians 10:31 said, in everything we do we must do it in God's glory. As a leader, I personally believe that a God-centered leader is an effective leader.

Second, we must encourage others to become also a leader by understanding the principle that every person has unique characteristics that will help in your team that will finish a certain task given. And also we can encourage others by rewarding them through recognizing their single act that contributed in finishing a certain task given, and for employers, they can encourage others to continue working is by giving a just wage that suits the need of your members.

And lastly, Leaders must be thankful in every outcomes and result of the project or tasks that was given. The Bible said in I Thessalonians 5:18, in everything give thanks because God given us strength and wisdom to work in a certain job.

As final statement, Leaders must become excellent in doing right and must resist false leadership doctrines such as cheating, corruption, etc. because that kind of practice is forbidden by God and the Bible said in Romans 6:23, for the wages of sin is death... The meaning of the word death is not only physical but also spiritual that your soul will be tormented in hell forevermore.