John Maxwell’s 7 Characteristics of a Leader
The best way to create leaders isn’t to mold them in any way or create them, the best way to create leaders is to find people with leadership potential and then continue to encourage them.
There are a number of people who do a great job managing others but they’re not leaders.
The thing about many people is that they can NEVER be leaders with who they are today… they can’t even lead themselves!! How could you ever lead someone else if you can’t even lead yourself?
You see an unorganized and disheveled company? Look up the ranks for the unorganized and disheveled leader.
You see selfish team members only focusing on themselves? Look up the ranks for the selfish and greedy leader.
You see an optimistic and organized group? Look up the ranks for the visionary leader who knows how to make goals tangible.
As the old adage goes, “Show me what you do and I’ll tell you what you believe in.”
Do you truly believe in investing in others? SHOW IT.
Period.
There is no other way.
Research shows time and time and time again that to be a great leader you truly must LEAD.
Do you even know what that means?
That means you’ve been there before.
Lead: cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward.
Lead: to guide on a way especially by going in advance.
You CANNOT lead someone to somewhere that you have NOT been! It’s impossible.
That is why people say that you need people above you.
That is why you “outgrow” mentors.
Because once you surpass them in the area that they are mentoring you in, then they cannot be your mentor for that anymore.
LEADERSHIP IN A DESERT
Say you’re in the middle of the desert. If you don’t know the direction of the nearest reservoir, how could you ever lead someone else there? You can’t!
You could walk with someone else but you are not leading them at that point, you’re just walking together, who’s the leader there? NEITHER.
It’s the blind leading the blind.
Maybe you are the leader because you chose the direction.
But are you really leading?
Nah.
That’s a guessing game, that’s NOT leadership.
We’ve spent enough time reviewing what leadership is not, let’s look at what John Maxwell says about people who can be developed or refined into leaders.
Identifying people with leadership potential:
1. Catalysts, they have the ability to make things happen.
“You can delegate authority but you cannot delegate responsibility.” — Byron Dorgan
We must ensure that follow through occurs. It’s human nature to seek the path of least resistance — leaders cannot do that. Leaders must go headfirst into challenges and ensure that all obstacles are broken down or removed.
2. Influencers, this cannot be delegated. Pay attention to who follows them. Influence is a combination of character, relationships, knowledge, communication, passion, experience, and ability.
“Leadership is getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower
We must be UNITED. It’s essential that as leaders we are able to bring others on board in all areas. We must be the example of excellence in every area because people follow based on actions, not words.
3. Relationship Builders, nobody lacking good people skills can become a good leader, solely a manager.
“Asking and hearing people’s opinions has a greater effect on them than telling them good job.” — Sam Walton
Great leaders make time for their people — poor leaders are too busy for their people. Which are you? It’s not easy but it’s not supposed to be.
4. Gatherers, they seem to possess the quality of attraction.
“The men who have changed the universe have never gotten there by working on leaders, but rather by moving the masses.” — Napoleon Bonaparte
It is said that the best leaders get their people to do things that need to be done because they wanted to do it. It’s about working together from different backgrounds for one common purpose — that’s leadership.
5. Value adders, they are givers and see their role as though it should benefit others and not just themselves.
“As a leader, unless advice is explicitly requested, remain TOTALLY silent. Do not offer opinions or tell your own stories to show you relate to them. Chances are, they’ll be rubbed the wrong way. Even when you have the best intentions, sometimes the individual just wants to vent.” — Allison Maslan
Leaders give. Takers take. The best leaders I’ve ever seen do something that is often talked about but rarely practiced. The best leaders I’ve ever seen give praise to their team during all successes and take responsibility for all failures. Talk about exhausting, wow — but that’s the price of leadership. Leaders are often the most popular people (or at least should be) but also the most alone people.
6. Opportunists, leaders see and seize opportunity. They lead the charge and pave the way.
“Relax. Look around. Make a call.” — Jocko Willink
Leaders get it done. This is what I think. This is the most integral part of a leader. If a leader cannot get things done, good luck to the rest of the group! A leader must lead. We looked at the definition of that earlier in this piece. Leaders have done it before and they better do it again. If not… find a new leader. How do you follow somebody who can’t get the job done and get it done well? Easy — don’t.
7. Finishers, they take responsibility, embrace opportunity, and follow through.
“The best managers are the great individual contributors who never ever want to be a manager but decide they have to be a manager because no one else will be able to do as good a job as them.” — Steve Jobs
This is very similar to number 6 in my mind. They go hand in hand. Action without completion means nothing. It’s like dark clouds that come over acres of farmland but never rain — that does absolutely nothing for the harvest. Leaders must get things done and they must call people up to a higher standard and push them beyond what they knew possible — that’s what success is.
Identifying people with leadership potential:
1. Catalysts, they have the ability to make things happen.
2. Influencers, this cannot be delegated. Pay attention to who follows them. Influence is a combination of character, relationships, knowledge, communication, passion, experience, and ability.
3. Relationship Builders, nobody lacking good people skills can become a good leader, solely a manager.
4. Gatherers, they seem to possess the quality of attraction.
5. Value adders, they are givers and see their role as though it should benefit others and not just themselves.
6. Opportunists, leaders see and seize opportunity. They lead the charge and pave the way.
7. Finishers, they take responsibility, embrace opportunity, and follow through.
There are 4 significant factors that characterize the lives of competent spiritual leadersmedium.com
Leaders are not just one kind of person but leaders are almost always people who have been there before, know how to get there, and can unite people to achieve a purpose. There are many different ways to become a leader but most often, a strong character is the first step.
It’s essential that leaders do what needs to be done. Leaders must lead.
Lead: to guide on a way especially by going in advance.
“All I can be is me; I cannot be whomever I want to be. Who the Creator made us to be is who we are, that’s who we can be. God is an intentional craftsman, we were meticulously designed by God.” — Jordan Raynor