DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP: INSIGHT FROM JOHN C. MAXWELL
Posted on October 29, 2010 by Nathan R Mitchell, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
Small Business Coaching, Clutch Consulting LLC, Tulsa OK, writes about the insight of John C Maxwell on leadership, and the "Law of Addition.
Dynamic Leadership: Insight From John C Maxwell
By Nathan Mitchell, Small Business Coach, Tulsa OK, Springfield MO
“I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?”–Benjamin Disraeli
“Leadership” is the ability to lead. ”Dynamic Leadership” is the ability to lead in such a way that effective action results. Unfortunately, many CEOs of large corporations enjoy enormous power in their positions. Power in and of itself is not bad–it only becomes problematic when it is used for selfish reasons. Typically, when leaders are more concerned with what’s in it for them than they are with the ways they can create and add value for others, they are usually not remembered for long.
The primary function of any business is to generate cash and maximize the bottom line. It is possible to add profits to the bottom line by creating and adding value for others. In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell calls this the “Law of Addition.” As discussed in the book, Jim Sinegal of Costco, believes in the power not held by his position, but in the power of creating value and service for others. First and foremost, Sinegal goes out of his way to ensure his employees know he cares about them. This includes visiting every single Costco store each year. He also believes in fair compensation; in fact, he believes in paying his employees well! Costco employees are paid 42% more annually than the company’s rival, and they pay a fraction of the national average for health care benefits. Sinegal believes that when you pay people well, and show them that you genuinely care, “You get good people and good productivity” (Maxwell, pg. 48).
In his book, Maxwell defines four guidelines dynamic leaders can use to create value and service for others:
- Add value to others by truly valuing them
- Add value to others by making yourself more valuable
- Add value to others by knowing and relating to what they value personally
- Add value by doing the things that God values
“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”–Matthew 20:28
Keep Winning!
