BOOK REVIEW: THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP BY JOHN MAXWELL

Hello people.

The subject of leadership is one that has always held a great fascination for me. There was a time I was a strong believer in leadership maxims like ‘a pack of sheep led by a lion is stronger than a pack of lions led by a sheep’ and ‘everything rises and falls on leadership’, however, certain incidents caused me to rethink some of these maxims and to wonder: is strong leadership ability enough, or are there other factors that determine the success of a leader apart from leadership ability?

I remember a particular organisation I worked for a few years ago. The Head of the organisation at the time was a queer person with a terrible character; everyone rejoiced when the Board of Governors sacked him and got a new Head with the relevant degrees, appropriate experience and charisma for the job. The general feeling then was that all problems had been solved and that the organisation was headed for utopia. Little did we know that the problems had only just begun.

It was not long before people began to grumble about the new Head, with complaints ranging from his seeming 'superiority complex’ to his autocratic nature. It was at that point I began to rethink my view of leadership and to believe that apart from strong leadership ability, there are other important factors that could enhance the success or cause the downfall of a leader.

It is for this reason that I chose to review the book ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ by John Maxwell. Whether you are the leader of a big corporation or a small group of volunteers, the information contained in the book will come in quite handy and help you to be more effective at carrying out your leadership responsibilities.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is a classic book written by John Maxwell on the subject of leadership. In the book, John states that leadership requires the ability to do more than one thing well. He then goes on to describe twenty one laws that leaders must be conversant with if they are to be effective at leading people.  Some of the laws described in the book are:

1.    The Law of Influence: Maxwell describes five common myths about leadership viz: the management myth, the entrepreneur myth, the knowledge myth, the pioneer myth and the position myth. He then asserts that the true measure of leadership is influence, stating that a real leader is one who is able to influence followers with or without leverage. Maxwell goes on to list factors that can increase a leader’s influence with his/her followers, such as possessing good character, forming meaningful relationships with followers, possessing quality experience, having a good track record of success and demonstrating strong leadership ability.

2.    The Law of Process: John Maxwell asserts in this chapter that leadership develops daily, not in a day. He explains the phases of leadership growth and emphasizes that leaders are learners, stating that there are no overnight successes. In his words: ‘leadership doesn’t develop in a day but in a lifetime’, and, ‘to lead tomorrow, learn today’.

3.    The Law of the Inner Circle: Maxwell states that leaders do not succeed alone and that a leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him. He describes the advantages of having a good team and advises leaders to consider the following questions before admitting individuals into their inner circle: [a] Does this individual have high influence with other people? [b] Do they hold a strategic position in the organization? [c] Do they add value to me and to the organization? etc. He ends the chapter with this statement: ‘If you want to increase your capacity and maximize your potential as a leader, your first step is always to become the best leader you can. The next is to surround yourself with the best leaders you can find.'

4.    The Law of Sacrifice: Maxwell states that a common misconception among people is that leadership is all about position, perks and power. He goes on to dispel the misconception, stating that sacrifice is the heart of leadership. Quoting philosopher–poet Ralph Waldo Emerson who observed that “ For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for everything you gain, you lose something”, John asserts that leaders are often asked to give up more than others and that the more responsibility one accepts, the fewer options the person has.

5.    The Law of Timing: John Maxwell states here that timing is everything; it is often the difference between the success and failure of an endeavour. He postulates that 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, and the right action at the right time results in success. He concludes the chapter with the statement: ‘Reading a situation and knowing what to do are not enough to make you succeed in leadership. If you want your organisation, department or team to move forward, you must pay attention to timing. Only the right action at the right time will bring success. Anything else exacts a high price.’

There are other powerful laws described by John Maxwell in the book such as the Law of the Lid, the Law of Magnetism and the Law of the Big Mo, and the illustrations accompanying each law serve to make the book more captivating to the reader. Unfortunately, I cannot describe all the laws in this post but suffice it to say that leaders and potential leaders will definitely find this book worth reading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Maxwell is an American author and speaker who has written many books, especially books on leadership.  The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership was written by John Maxwell in 1998 and revised ten years later. As at 2007, it had sold over a million copies and has been on bestseller lists like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and more. In 2014, John Maxwell was named the No. 1 Leadership and Management expert in the world by Inc. Magazine.