This book was brought to my attention recently by my friend Chuck from church and is worthy of a quick review. Leadership in our culture today is vanishing and not faring any better in churches either. I recall Terry Shue saying more than a decade ago that already some congregations are in need of hospice care; to be lain to rest gracefully….
We are dealing with more issues today than even at New Years, and we may soon expect more chaos and confusion, making this book on leadership even more pertinent to our future well being. Read John Maxwell’s introduction and chapter titles, and then quietly reflect and construct a list of those persons you know whose business, personal life, career, marriage, spiritual witness, etc. may be positively impacted by your investment of time in sharing this book with them. Contact me if you have ideas or questions. Graduation gifts are coming. Certainly appropriate for college grads and with your mentoring, certain high school grads may qualify. Start this summer and finish up in college this fall. Great opportunity to build bridges with your kids, grand kids, nephews, nieces, friends, etc…. and an excellent basis for life long relationship building.
I presume you fully understand a salesman is only as good as his intimate experience with his product and this is best facilitated by you having experienced this book in your daily life. Otherwise, what has been happening for decades in our culture and our churches will re-occur with us… as perhaps we have been instructed and advised at times by hopefully, only a few, and if so, not majorly impacted, who also were “inauthentic in not having experienced radical transformation and the subsequent empowering to affect effective joyful change in us.” (mle) If implemented, this book will not a walk in your backyard, but it will bring you immense joy at harvest time! Invest in people! After all, weren’t we commanded to make disciples?
Once again, the effective mentoring of our future leadership is always our responsibility; whether in our culture or in our churches! Blessings as you get creative in your “opportunity to be responsible” Holy Moments!! >>>>> merlin
Introduction by John Maxwell
How can I become a better leader? That’s a question I ask myself every day of my life. I’m constantly searching for new things to learn and ways to grow. But sometimes the best way to learn is to return to the fundamentals. After all, that’s what championship coaches when they want to sharpen the skills of their players, whether they’re rookies or seasoned veterans.
That’s what prompted me to go back to the Source, to the greatest leadership book ever written: the Bible. Every leadership lesson I’ve ever taught has been based on scriptural principles. Now in The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day, I’m bringing the leadership contained in the Bible to the forefront. By examining the lives of the Bible’s great leaders, we can learn more about leadership and apply the principles we learn to our daily lives.
This book is a leadership development tool. It’s not meant to be read through in several sittings. It’s designed to be consumed in daily bites and digested slowly, so put it someplace where you can conveniently read it five days a week.
If you go the process as I’ve intended, you will spend the next twenty-one weeks working your way through the material. The book is organized around The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You and I recommend reading the related chapter from it over the weekend to provide a thorough overview prior to beginning The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day. Each week you will spend four days learning leadership from a different biblical figure. Every day focuses on one predominant leadership thought, contains a lesson learned the biblical leader, and poses a question for you to meditate on all day long. The fifth day will help you change your focus from thinking about leadership to acting on it as you take steps to help you become a better leader.
I hope you enjoy the next few months living with some of the greatest leaders in mankind’s history – and with a few who should have been but weren’t. I’ve learned some wonderful lessons from them, and I hope you do too.
Table Of Contents
1. THE LAW OF THE LID
Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s Level of Effectiveness
Two leaders couldn’t have been more different, from the depths of their hearts to the lids of their leadership. One was a leader after God’s own heart. Both teach invaluable leadership lessons.
2. THE LAW OF THE INFLUENCE
The True Measure of Leadership is Influence – Nothing More, Nothing Less
The first time he attempted to lead, the people wouldn’t listen to him. Years later when he tried again, his influence was so strong that the people did everything he wanted – no questions asked. That’s the power of influence.
3. THE LAW OF PROCESS
Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day
He was ready to lead as a cocky kid, but God had a different plan in mind. As a result he helped his family, saved a nation, and fulfilled God’s destiny for his life – all because of the Law of Process.
4. THE LAW OF NAVIGATION
Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course
In a few weeks, he was able to accomplish what other leaders couldn’t do in a century. His secret? Visions, calling, and the Law of Navigation.
5. THE LAW OF ADDITION
Leaders Add Value by Serving Others
They were the one group Jesus criticized most. Why? Because they added value to themselves instead of to the people they led. May Jesus’ admonition be a warning to us!
6. THE LAW OF SOLID GROUND
Trust Is the Foundation of Leadership
He should have been one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history. Instead he was one of the worst. Why? He violated the Law of Solid Ground and frittered away his leadership.
7. THE LAW OF RESPECT
People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger than Themselves
Why did Israel’s strongest leaders follow a woman when every other leader of the nation had been a man? Because she was the greatest leader of her generation. That’s the power of the Law of Respect.
8. THE LAW OF INTUITION
Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias
Would you want to listen to the advice of one of your in-laws? Your answer would be yes if you were teachable and he was an intuitive leader able to help you turn your leadership around overnight!
9. THE LAW OF MAGNETISM
Who You Are Is Who Attract
His leadership was characterized by fire. So who did he draw to him to follow in his footsteps? He couldn’t help attracting someone with the same kind of fiery leadership. Learn from him whom you will likely attract.
10. THE LAW OF CONNECTION
Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand
He could have had the people eating out of his hand. Instead, they ate him alive. It cost him everything. That’s what happens when you violate the Law of Connection.
11. THE LAW OF THE INNER CIRCLE
A Leader’s Potential Is Determined by Those Closest to Him
His leadership team was a “who’s who” of Israel unlike any seem before him or since. They helped him become a great leader – and they helped make Israel the nation it was destined to be.
12.THE LAW OF EMPOWERMENT
Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others
Who would have the courage to embrace a man everyone feared and then empower him to be the greatest leader of his time? Only a leader secure enough to give his power away. That’s the secret to the Law of Empowerment.
13. THE LAW OF THE PICTURE
People Do What People See
Elisha was able to part the waters of the Jordan, ensure that a destitute widow miraculously survived, and even raise the dead. How was a farmer able to do such amazing feats? Simple: He watched Elijah. People do what people see.
14. THE LAW OF BUY-IN
People Buy In to the Leader, Then the Vision
The people suffered horrible oppression and wanted relief, but they did nothing – until this leader arrived on the scene. Why? Because people buy in to the leader first, then the vision.
15. THE LAW OF VICTORY
Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win
Everything was stacked against him: he was only eight years old when he became the leader, his father and grandfather had been horrible leaders, and the country was a mess. Yet he achieved victory like no other king of Israel. His secret is contained in the Law of Victory.
16. THE LAW OF BIG MO
Momentum Is a Leader’s Best Friend
His father started the momentum. He increased it. As a result, people came from all around the world to meet him and learn from his leadership. There’s no doubting that the Big Mo was his best friend.
17. THE LAW OF PRIORITIES
Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment
The stakes were as high as could be, and he (of all people) was entrusted with leading the movement. He succeeded, and that movement has grown for thousands of years – all because he understood the Law of Priorities.
18. THE LAW OF SACRIFICE
A Leader Must Give Up to Go Up
He was a prince who stepped down in order to move up – to a higher calling. How was he able to do it? He understood the true nature of leadership. You have to give up to go up.
19. THE LAW OF TIMING
When to Lead Is as Important as What to Do and Where to Go
There are certain moments in a leader’s life when timing is everything. She understood that, and she made the most of it. And as a result, an entire people escaped certain death.
20. THE LAW OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH
To Add Growth, Lead Followers – To Multiply, Lead Leaders
Everywhere he went, he left in his wake … leaders. He found them, developed them, and empowered them. That was the way he spread his influence across the globe. That was the power of the Law of Explosive Growth.
21. THE LAW OF LEGACY
A Leader’s Lasting Value Is Measured By Succession
Some leaders collect souvenirs. Others capture trophies. This leader created a legacy that endures to this day. Learn his secret, and carry on in his footsteps.