The 21 irrefutable laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

This blog wants to help remember the books I read while inspiring my work as a Leadership, Performance and Team Coach.

You will find a summary of the book, key takeaways as well as my view on how to apply them when coaching people: you being a team leader, an athlete, a father & mother or just interested in personal and people development.

I sincerely hope you find some applicable inspiration to get better at living your life both on a personal and professional level.

What's the book all about?

John Maxwell has the great merit to indicate 21 key areas of development in order to take Leadership to another level.

He calls them Laws, at the foundation of Leadership: applicable to family, sports, business and personal settings. Each chapter delves into a specific law and a case study to explain the Law.

Why should you read it?

Statistics indicate that poor leadership is a widespread issue, with tangible impacts on organizational effectiveness and morale.

A recent Gallup study found that 82% of employees consider their leaders as inadequate, citing a lack of clear communication, inspiration, and vision as core issues (Gallup, 2020).

Similarly, DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast reports that only 14% of organizations feel they have strong leadership pipelines in place.

These numbers highlight a critical need for leaders to build and refine their skills.

Maxwell offers specific principles and actionable steps, making it easy for readers to implement leadership skills immediately regardless of experience level or setting.​

I personally use these timeless principles in my coaching practice to check Where the Leader is at and most importantly Why. Let’s pick some examples.

Law #2 - THE LAW OF INFLUENCE 

The true measure of leadership is influence, nothing more nothing less.

Maxwell says “True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It must be earned.”

The big question: Who are you influencing? Is it your title or something about you?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

Law #3 – THE LAW OF PROCESS 

Leadership, as I often repeat to my clients, is an investment in yourself and most importantly in others: which demands a consistent process and patience.

Maxwell says “Leadership develops daily, not in a day.”

The big question: How much time do you dedicate to it? Do you believe in this investment having the patience to trust the process and wait for its yields?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

Law #5 – THE LAW OF ADDITION 

Get to know the people you are leading, find out their priorities, goals, hopes, and dreams, and then figure out what you can do to assist them in getting where they want.

Maxwell says “Inexperienced leaders are quick to lead before knowing anything about the people they intend to lead. By nature leaders listen, learn, and then lead.”

The big question: How well do you know your tribe? How much do you intentionally make yourself valuable to them?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

Law #6 – THE LAW OF SOLID GROUND 

Too many people are disillusioned with leaders because self-serving leaders have too-often abused it. Trust is the most important element in leadership.

Maxwell defines The Law of Solid Ground by saying “trust is the foundation of leadership”.

The big question: Does your Team trust you? Do they trust each other?

Rate from 1-10.

Law #10 – THE LAW OF CONNECTION

To truly connect with people you must listen, value, learn about them. Then adapt to who they are. Do not expect people to change themselves to follow you.

People will not follow you until they are emotionally bought into the vision you are casting.

“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

The big question: How well do you listen? How well are you present when they speak?

Do you meet where your people are or is it the other way around?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

Law #14 – THE LAW OF BUY-IN 

Many people who approach the area of vision in leadership have it all backward.

They believe that if the cause is good enough, people will automatically buy into it and follow. But that’s not how leadership really works. People don’t at first follow worthy causes.

“People buy into the leader, then the vision.” Maxwell writes.

The big question: How much does your Team buy into what you say? Why is so?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

Law #17 – THE LAW OF PRIORITIES 

Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily about accomplishment.

They know what’s important.

Pareto says that if we spend our time working on the things in the top 20% of importance, it will give us 80% of the return we are looking for. This may mean giving 80% of your time to your top 20% of employees in case of a Team Leader.

The big question: What’s your 20% as concerns activities? Who’s your 20% in the Team?

How well do you honor the 20-80 Pareto rule?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

LAW #18 – THE LAW OF SACRIFICE 

If you are pursuing leadership for personal gain or recognition, then you are not a quality leader.

Maxwell says, “the heart of leadership is putting others ahead of yourself”.

The big question: How well do you understand it is in your interest to have a “Team 1st” attitude? How well do you do it?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

LAW #19 – THE LAW OF TIMING 

As you develop our leadership abilities, you must go beyond simply knowing how to lead. You must also learn to discern when it is the right time to do so.

Maxwell gives a few summary statements.

“The wrong action at the wrong time leads to disaster.”

“The right action at the wrong time brings resistance.”

“The wrong action at the right time is a mistake.”

However, “the right action at the right time results in success.”

The big question: How well do you do it?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

LAW #20 – THE LAW OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH 

You can grow by leading followers. But if you want to maximize your leadership and help your organization reach its potential, you need to develop leaders.

Maxwell summarizes “leaders who develop leaders experience an incredible multiplication effect in their organizations that can be achieved in no other way — not by increasing resources, reducing costs, increasing profit margins, improving systems, implementing quality procedures or doing anything else.”

The big question: Are you creating a leadership ladder in the team appointing and growing co-leaders? Do you have leadership development pipeline?

Rate yourself from 1-10.

Conclusions & takeaways

You can't change what you don't notice.

In my 12 sessions Coaching Program I use self-assessment questionnaires and 360 Degree Feedback to help you gain a numerical as well as qualitative understanding of where you are at as a Leader.

On a case-by-case basis we develop an ability to monitor yourself with daily journaling techniques. To lay down a Leadership Development Plan which aims at uncovering the leaders’ true motivation, obstacles, objectives.

Should you need any support with these topics, don’t hesitate and contact me at: coaching@kilianbaccari.com

You may find more details and resources here:

www.instagram.com/kilian_the_coach

www.youtube.com/@KilianTheCoach

Things don’t get easier. We get better.