While each of
the twenty-one characteristics are important, three align well with our weekly
reading as it pertains to leading with our hearts, head, hands, and habits.Character is
the way that a leader shows up during good times and bad. For many leaders’ character is revealed
during times of adversity, where at the crossroad between character and
compromise the individual chooses the one along with the consequence. Character is what our heart leads us to
do. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Nobel Prize
winning author says, “The meaning of early existing lies, not as we have grown
used to thinking, in prospering, but in the development of the soul.” Maxwell extends this thinking saying the
heart of development is not only for leaders, but for every member of humanity
(Maxwell, John. P.4).
Maxwell also
cautions against the pitfalls of authentic leadership which he calls the four
A’s: Arrogance, Aloneness,
Adventure-Seeking and Adultery. These
pitfalls, he reports, are the result of weak character. Talented individuals should build a bedrock character
that can be tested, but that doesn’t crack under pressure.
Deep Dive:
Passion
Bill Cosby,
comedian, said that “anyone can dabble, but once you’ve made that commitment,
your blood has that particular thing in it and its very hard for people to stop
you.” What he is describing is passion.
I am a firm
believer that intelligence, experience, degrees are not what make a leader and
while they may aid in obtaining followers, what really makes people excited
about following is passion.
Thinking of
successful people who were passionate about their craft, I immediately think of
individuals like Bill Gates (Technology), Steven Covey (Leadership), Mother
Theresa (Peace), Gandhi (Human Rights), Harriett Tubman (Freedom) and many
others. These individuals were
passionate about a topic and their desire created their destiny (Maxwell, John.
P.84).
Passionate
people do not compromise but understand that their passion has purpose. Even if that purpose is to show the world how
to make the impossible possible.
Deep Dive:
Servanthood
From Lead Like
Jesus, we are reminded that servant leaders serve people. The serve people even when it is not popular,
even when it doesn’t impress, even when it doesn’t offer them position. The quality of servanthood that John Maxwell
discusses in his book follows the same thinking as Lead Like Jesus in that servanthood
is all about people over position.
Maxwell reminds
readers that putting others ahead of their own agenda is a key part of
servanthood. When we are aware of other
people’s needs and can assist them, we are able to help them meet their goals
and desires. With service, we can model
servant leadership and magnify His glory.
Conclusion
In the book, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader,
Maxwell describes twenty-one of the qualities that when practiced daily and
modeled will draw people to the leader.
As noted above, the twenty-one qualities draw people to the
leader. While all align to Lead Like Jesus, the correlation with character,
passion and servanthood are obvious as each require active modeling of servant
leadership. Applying these qualities, Maxwell contends it will make people want
to follow (Maxwell, John P. xi). And,
for a leader, when people follow there is nothing the leader will not be able
to tackle.
References
Maxwell, John. 1999. The
21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.
Thomas Nelson.
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