Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 (2018) by John C. Maxwell, Book Review

Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 (2018) by John C. Maxwell

I read the first version of this book before. I even listened to the audiobook many times and watched videos of live seminars on the same subject. I read lots of John Maxwell's books because I love the way he writes: simple, easy to understand, challenging and applicable. I also can sense his passion, sincerity and authority on the subject of leadership. If you're a young reader, I recommend reading The Winning Attitude and Failing Forward. If you're new on the job (whatever your position), I recommend Talent Is Never Enough and Be A People Person. If you're a manager or in the people business, read Winning with People and 25 Ways to Win with People. If you're a team leader, I wholly recommend The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork and The 17 Essential Qualities of A Team Player. If you want to be a better leader, don't miss The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader and The 5 Levels of Leadership. If you want to grow to be an effective person, read Today Matters and How Successful People Think. But if you want to start to explore John's books, start with Developing the Leader Within You. You'll not regret! (I just purchased Leadershift. Haven’t read it).

The new edition – after 25 years and over 2 million copies sold – of this book contains the 10 foundational lessons for becoming a good leader. John writes, "It's still the first book I recommend that people read to start their leadership development journeys." With more than 80% of the content revised, this new edition is fresh and, of course, much better than the previous one. The 10 foundations are:

#1 The Definition of Leadership: Influence

#2 The Key to Leadership: Priorities

#3 The Foundation of Leadership: Character

#4 The Ultimate Test of Leadership: Creating Positive Change

#5 The Quickest Way to Gain Leadership: Problem Solving

#6 The Extra Plus in Leadership: Attitude

#7 The Heart of Leadership: Serving People

#8 The Indispensable Quality of Leadership: Vision

#9 The Price Tag of Leadership: Self-Discipline

#10 The Expansion of Leadership: Personal Growth

I'm very familiar with John's teachings. Besides listen to his audiobooks, I also listen to The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast. So most of the materials in this book are not new to me and yet, because John is always learning – he takes his own advice on personal growth very seriously – I noticed that his writings are getting more interesting and the examples, stories and quotes are just wonderful. As I examine myself with these foundational lessons, I find that my strengths are (also can be my weaknesses if I'm too confident) problem solving, attitude, self-discipline and personal growth. I want to think that I have influence and character. I just see the importance of priorities a few years ago. I need to improve in creating positive change and vision. And I must learn to serve people with love, care and patient. Like John, patience is my greatest weakness.

I will do a book review video soon. So, much of what I've learned from this book I will share in there. As for now, if you want to continue leading, you got to continue learning. Read books.

______________

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Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership (2014), Book Review

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership (2014)
by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell, my long-distant mentor in leadership, writes, “Good leaders ask great questions that inspire others to dream more, think more, learn more, do more, and become more.” That’s exactly what this book had done to me! This book is filled with great questions and good answers. When this book was published, John was 67-year-old. This is the product – the book that every young leader should read – of his 40 years in leadership. Imagine John’s experiences (so far) as a leader, writer, trainer, speaker and mentor crunch into a solid book that can be read like a textbook on leadership. I can’t finish reading a book like this and say, “I get it,” because it is not wisdom until I put it into practice. Surely, I will come back to this book when I have questions in leadership…. which I will refer to a lot in the future, I foresee. Og Mandino reminds us, “Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.”

“If you want to be successful and reach your leadership potential,” writes John, “you need to embrace asking questions as a lifestyle.” Why? John Maxwell outlines Eight (8) Values of Questions:

#1 You Only Get Answers to the Questions You Ask

#2 Questions Unlock and Open Doors that Otherwise Remain Closed

#3 Questions Are the Most Effective Means of Connecting with People

#4 Questions Cultivate Humility

#5 Questions Help You to Engage Others in Conversation

#6 Questions Allow Us to Build Better Ideas

#7 Questions Give Us a Different Perspective

#8 Questions Challenge Mind-Sets and Get You Out of Ruts

I love asking questions. Because of my inner curiosity, on average, I read one book and listen to one audiobook per week, watch a documentary or talk/seminar at least once per month, listen to podcasts on various topics, and more, and continue to do so because I love to gain knowledge. The fact that I never stop learning is because I never stop asking questions. I know some friends, colleagues, and students who pretend to know-it-all doesn’t ask questions when they need to. As a result, they left behind in their thinking and leadership. Anthony Robbins observed, “Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” So true! John said that questions have changed his life. In Part 1, he outlines questions others asked him, questions that he asked that changed his life, questions that he asked himself as a leader, and questions that he asked his team members. This part is worth reading all over again! John summarises, “Questions have power when I look back at the progression of my life, I can see that questions have marked the way for my growth, prompted positive changes of direction, and let to many successes. Though many of us try to make ourselves look smart by giving clever answers, we would be much better off if we focused our attention on asking questions… Good questions inform; great questions transform.”

In Part 2, important and practical sections, John answers questions that leaders asked him. Questions such as what must leaders do to lead themselves successfully? How does leadership work? How does leaders-gonna-be get started in leadership?  How leaders resolve conflict and lead challenging people? How can leaders succeed in working under poor leadership? How can leaders successfully navigate leadership transitions? How can leaders develop other leaders? Within these questions, there are sub-questions that John deals with. I love the second last questions that John answers with this opening statement: “There’s only one way to lead leaders. Become a better leader yourself. Good leaders do not follow poor ones. People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves.” For each question, John basically says: start with yourself and to be a leader is to serve people. Superb! It’s true: Everything rises and falls on leadership. So the great question and request that everyone (believers) should ask is: “God, how should I lead?”

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

25 Ways to Win with People (2005) by John C. Maxwell and Les Parrott, Book Review

 25 Ways to Win with People: How to Make Others Feel Like a Million Bucks (2005)
by John C. Maxwell and Les Parrott

I believe in God’s calling in my life. As I reflect, it is impossible for me in the past to have worked in the people business and enjoy it (previously I was working in the cinema management team) and then enter into the people-centered ministry that I’m passionately doing now. Personality-wise, I’m not a people person. I was proud, selfish, and headstrong. But only by the love and grace of God, He slowly shapes my character and continues to teach - and often discipline - me to love others. When God calls, we must respond, then He will equip us. Having said that, loving people is not automatic (in my case, I need a miracle!) but it requires humility, perspective, and practice. But the question is WHY? Why it is important to love people? As Christ-followers, this should be obvious. Look at Christ’s examples and read Christ’s words. But generally speaking, we live with each other, we work with each other, we are dependent on each other, and we always meet each other. There is no such thing as a self-made man. Even Superman needs Louis! As John Andrew Holmes puts it: “It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.”

So, since we cannot avoid people, we might as well learn to love people. And when you try, you will eventually genuinely love them (Yes, some people require more grace from our part. Actually, vice versa). I brought this book back in 2010 because I saw the need for me to learn to develop relationships with my boss, colleagues, and staff to win their hearts. Besides, in the cinema business, I have to deal with many types of clients and customers. I was young and inexperienced but hungry enough to learn from my mistakes and try new things. This book together with John’s larger book Winning with People (2004) and Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) have been a great help for me. 12 years later, as I read through this book again, I’m amazed by how relevant, important, and simply profound these twenty-five ways are to win with people. There are lots of good stories and I particularly love the “On Bringing It Home” section in every chapter designed to help the readers to put each way/lesson into action. There are lines, highlights, juicy quotes, and personal notes in my copy that bring back good memories.

Ps: One concern that I have with this kind of book is that: we must draw the line (no matter how thin the line is) between influencing and manipulating people. Use it wisely and ethically.

Truth be told, I have become slightly better in my relationships with people. Slowly yet hopeful. Some of these lessons have turned into habits; some I still have to practice; some are a bit more challenging - stubborn! - to implement. When I observe myself, people around me, and how people interact in social media and technologies like Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, etc. it reminds me that all the more we have to learn to connect with people effectively as humans, improve our interpersonal skills, breathe encouragements, be genuinely interested with others online and offline, and make the most of every opportunity to “keep winning by helping others win” said John Maxwell. I may forget my own advice or lessons that I learned from this book and realistically cannot win every people I encounter, but Lord, I pray, for me and you, to make a difference at least to one person even with a simple gesture of kindness that we meet TODAY. May he or she says, “I have become better for having known you.”

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #WinningWithPeople #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews by John C. Maxwell, CLICK HERE

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The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader (1999) Book Review

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader:

Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow (1999)

by John C. Maxwell

"Everything rises and falls on leadership": that is what John Maxwell always emphasis in every book on leadership that he wrote. I've been his student, learner and (hopefully) practitioner of leadership since I was promoted to become Assistant Manager at Golden Screen Cinema (GSC) Times Square KL 9 years ago and now I continue as Staff Worker at Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) Malaysia. I don't know how to lead well then, and I'm still learning now. I wish to learned leadership my entire life. Great leaders don't become great in a moment – or in a month or a year or even after almost 10 years. They become great leaders one day at a time through their entire lifetimes. I'll never finish. I'll never completely arrive. I'll constantly and continuously find new ways to serve and improve my skills and attitude to become a better leader. The Law of Process says that leadership develops daily, not in a day.

I pick this book because I'm curious about this question: What makes people want to follow a leader? "The answer," writes Maxwell, "lies in the character qualities of the individual person." What qualities? Maxwell summits that there are 21 indispensables (essential, crucial, vital) qualities that a leader must have. "Leaders are effective because of who they are on the inside – in the qualities that make them up as people. And to go to the highest level of leadership, people have to develop these traits from the inside out." If I become the leader I ought to be on the inside, I will be able to become the leader I want to be on the outside. People will want to follow me. Ah, here is the key: learn and practice these qualities and people will want to follow you.

Even though this book has short chapters and small volume (only 157 pages), I don't read this book with speed-reading like I use to other books. Maxwell encourages his readers to "live with this book for a while. Read a chapter, and then give it some time. Use it to reflect, review and renew." I spent a little bit longer on my weak qualities – reflect on the questions, taking notes and begin to practice some – before I move to other qualities. For example, I'm really weak in listening and relationships qualities, and so I spent a bit longer in both areas. I can instantly connect with qualities like initiative and teachability, so I read it quickly but with cautions (not to be overconfident). Here are The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader lists by John C. Maxwell:

#1 CHARACTER:  Be a Piece of the Rock

#2 CHARISMA: The First Impression Can Seal the Deal

#3 COMMITMENT: It Separates Doers from Dreamers

#4 COMMUNICATION: Without It You Travel Alone

#5 COMPETENCE: If You Build It, They Will Come

#6 COURAGE: One Person with Courage Is a Majority

#7 DISCERNMENT: Put an End to Unsolved Mysteries

#8 FOCUS: The Sharper It Is, the Sharper You Are

#9 GENEROSITY: Your Candle Loses Nothing When It Lights Another

#10 INITIATIVE: You Won't Leave Home Without It

#11 LISTENING: To Connect with Their Hearts, Use Your Ears

#12 PASSION: Take This Life and Love It

#13 POSITIVE ATTITUDE: If You Believe You Can, You Can

#14 PROBLEM SOLVING: You Can't Let Your Problems Be a Problem

#15 RELATIONSHIPS: If You Get Along, They'll Go Along

#16 RESPONSIBILITY: If You Won't Carry the Ball, You Can't Lead the Team

#17 SECURITY: Competence Never Compensates for Insecurity

#18 SELF-DISCIPLINE: The First Person You Lead Is You

#19 SERVANTHOOD: To Get Ahead, Put Others First

#20 TEACHABILITY: To Keep Leading, Keep Learning

#21 VISION: You Can Seize Only What You Can See

I listened to audiobook too so that I can instill all of these qualities in my mind and hopeful in my walk as a leader. Since I already read Maxwell's other book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (I will listen to the audiobook all over again), I find that this one is a great complimentary companion for it. If you want to be a good leader and desire others to follow you, buy and read this book! Highly recommend. After all, "He who thinks he leads but has no followers, is only taking a walk."

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace (2019) by John C. Maxwell, Book Review

 

Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace (2019) 

by John C. Maxwell

I've read this book twice. One during my travel to Peninsular Malaysia last year; and then I read again this year. John Maxwell has been my distant mentor ever since I started my first job after graduating from university. One quote from John that I will never forget is this: "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Core principles of leadership like competence, courage, consistency, character, etc. will never change but the world around us changes rapidly. It is not a call to compromise but to adapt - to shift our leadership. John highlights a study that was published in The Flux Report reported that "91% of future recruiting in the workplace will be based on people's ability to deal with change and uncertainty." Change or die!

What is leadershift? John defines it as an ability and willingness to make a leadership change that will positively enhance organizational and personal growth. "Leadershift is not easy," John reminds us, "especially when you first start doing it. Often you leave behind something that has worked to pursue something untested. You'll have to deal with the tension between the stability that gives security and the adaptability that opens up the opportunity... The desire to improve will drive you to keep learning. But here's the good news: learning to leadershift will make you a better leader!" I want that for myself - and as I share this short review - I want this for you too. We all can be highly benefitted from a good leadership paradigm. We all can learn and grow to become a leader we are meant to be. We all can be a better leader.

Here are the 11 shifts that we have to embrace, learn, and practice to be more effective (and relevant) as a leader in the fast-paced world today. I'm good with some, okay with a few, and there are a lot of improvements that I have to make. How about you? Check this out 👇👇👇

#1 The Focus Shift - from Soloist to Conductor
#2 The Personal Development Shift - from Goals to Growth
#3 The Cost Shift - from Perks to Price
#4 The Relational Shift - from Pleasing People to Challenging People
#5 The Abundance Shift - from Maintaining to Creating
#6 The Reproduction Shift - from Ladder Climbing to Ladder Building
#7 The Communication Shift - from Directing to Connecting
#8 The Improvement Shift - from Team Uniformity to Team Diversity
#9 The Influence Shift - from Positional Authority to Moral Authority
#10 The Impact Shift - from Trained Leaders to Transformational Leaders
#11 The Passion Shift - from Career to Calling

Buy this book (or ebook or audiobook). If it's too expensive for you, eat only once per day and save your money. Hey, you need to improve your leadership. Change or die! 😊📖💪 #ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #Leadership #Leadershift #JohnCMaxwell

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The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You (10th Anniversary Edition)

If you ask 10 of your respected leaders to recommend 5 books on leadership, I suspect 1 of John Maxwell's books will be on their lists. Of those books, most people will cite The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership as his best work (It's certainly his most well-known). I've read the book once, taking notes and I listened to an audiobook at least twice per year. This good!

In this book, Maxwell dictates the 21 "laws" (not "principles") a leader must follow to get others to follow the leader. "He who thinks he leads," said the author, "but has no followers, is only taking a walk." Using numerous examples drawn from a variety of people from Mother Teresa to the founders of McDonald's, Maxwell shows how people have either used the laws successfully or ignored the laws and failed. Most of the laws are obvious, for example, #14 The Law of Buy-In states that people buy into the leader and only then do they buy into the vision. That makes sense and has a practical application in the real world (example, how we vote leaders).

Some readers have dismissed the book because the laws are easy to understand. These critics miss two significant points: #1 This book codifies and reinforces our thinking. For example, Law #17 The Law of Priorities, cautions against equating activity with achievement. Maxwell points out that we must constantly review our priorities to make sure that we are "steering the ship in the right direction" (this include Law #4 The Law of Navigation). Far beyond leaving it there and stating only the obvious, Maxwell adds that we must always evaluate our priorities with the 80/20 rule in mind. Focus 80 percent of your time on the 20 percent of your priorities that will provide the largest return. He notes that the rule applies equally to developing strategic sales accounts as does it in developing people; #2 This book is a reminder that leadership is a daily commitment. As Maxwell notes in Law #3 The Law of Process, leadership is a process that "develops daily, not in a day." Reading Maxwell's book reinforces what many of us already know about leadership and reminds us to put those theories into practice every day.

Many books on leadership are long on theory but don't help the reader understand how to put the theory into practice. Maxwell does not fall into that trap. At the end of every chapter, he lists three activities we can do to apply the law to our lives. But the truth is Maxwell himself admits that not every leader will have a proficiency in all 21 Laws. Leaders are learners. The author notes that leadership skills can and should be improved through practice. Remember this: "Everything falls and rises on leadership." So, learn!

Here is the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership list, and the tagline for each of the laws:

1. The Law of the Lid: Leadership Ability Determines a Person's Level of Effectiveness
2. The Law of Influence: The True Measure of Leadership Is Influence – Nothing More Nothing Less
3. The Law of Process: Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day
4. The Law of Navigation: Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course
5. The Law of Addition: Leaders Add Value by Serving Others
6. The Law of Solid Ground: Trust Is the Foundation of Leadership
7. The Law of Respect: People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger Than Themselves
8. The Law of Intuition: Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias
9. The Law of Magnetism: Who You Are Is Who You Attract
10. The Law of Connection: Leaders Touch a Heart Before Ask for a Hand
11. The Law of Inner Circle: A Leader's Potential Is Determined by Those Closest to Him
12. The Law of Empowerment: Only Secure Leaders Give Powers to Others
13. The Law of the Picture: People Do What People See
14. The Law of Buy-In: People Buy into the Leader, Then the Vision
15. The Law of Victory: Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win
16. The Law of the Big Mo: Momentum Is a Leader's Best Friend
17. The Law of Priorities: Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment
18. The Law of Sacrifice: A Leader Must Give Up to Go Up
19. The Law of Timing: When to Lead Is As Important As What to Do and Where to Go
20. The Law of Explosive Growth: To Add Growth, Lead Followers – To Multiply Lead Leaders
21. The Law of Legacy: A Leader's Lasting Value Is Measured by Succession

[Leader is Influencer and a Reader: My Top 15 Book on Leadership Lists, CLICK HERE]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

BOOK REVIEW: Good Leaders Ask Great Questions (2014) by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell, my long-distant mentor in leadership, writes, “Good leaders ask great questions that inspire others to dream more, think more, learn more, do more, and become more.” That’s exactly what this book had done to me! This book is filled with great questions and good answers. When this book was published, John was 67-year-old. This is the product – the book that every young leader should read – of his 40 years in leadership. Imagine John’s experiences (so far) as a leader, writer, trainer, speaker and mentor crunch into a solid book that can be read like a textbook on leadership 📕📖📚📓📑📓📚

"If you want to be successful and reach your leadership potential,” writes John, “you need to embrace asking questions as a lifestyle.” Why? John Maxwell outlines Eight (8) Values of Questions:

1) You Only Get Answers to the Questions You Ask

2) Questions Unlock and Open Doors that Otherwise Remain Closed

3) Questions Are the Most Effective Means of Connecting with People

4) Questions Cultivate Humility

5) Questions Help You to Engage Others in Conversation

6) Questions Allow Us to Build Better Ideas

7) Questions Give Us a Different Perspective

8) Questions Challenge Mind-Sets and Get You Out of Ruts

#LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication: Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message (2023) by John C. Maxwell, Audiobook Review

 The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication: Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message (2023) by John C. Maxwell

You can have the greatest idea in the world, the most loving heart in the universe, and the wisest wisdom in heaven, but if you cannot communicate your ideas, feelings, and thoughts well, all these are powerless. Robert Frost humorously but rightly observes: "Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it." Communication skills are important. I once had a friend during Bible study who I sensed had something worth saying but couldn't express well because he was struggling to find words, phrases, and ways to communicate his points. Blessed message but poorly executed. Have you experienced the same thing?

This is why - especially if you're a leader but also not necessarily because everyone communicates in one form or another - you need to learn how to communicate well. Even if you're already good at it, I think John C. Maxwell can still add more value to you. I've read Mr. Maxwell's Laws books on leadership, teamwork, growth, and now communication (by the way, readers and doers are two different matters). This one is as good as the others. It has all the lessons that you can learn from his other book, entitled Everyone Communicates, Few Connect except more. Most of the 'laws' are not new or unique, but Mr. Maxwell, a very good communicator himself, has the gift of making complicated insights simple. If you have to choose only one book to read on communication this year, then, I highly recommend this one. These 'laws' are truly undeniable.

According to John C. Maxwell, there are five (5) essentials to communication: 1) Who Say It (The Law of Credibility, Observation & Conviction); 2) What Is Said (The Law of Preparation, Collaboration & Content); 3) How It Is Said (The Law of Connecting, Leverage, Anticipation, Simplicity, Visual Expression & Storytelling); 4) When It Is Said (The Law of Thermostat & Change-Up); and 5) Why It Is Said (The Law of Adding Value & Results).

In my first round of listening to the audiobook (8 hours 57 minutes), three laws that speak to me are:

• The Law of Credibility: Your Most Effective Message Is the One You Live
• The Law of Simplicity: Communicators Take Something Complicated and Make It Simple
• The Law of Change-Up: Sameness Is the Death of Communication

As for now, I want to focus on these three. I will listen to this audiobook again next month.

#ServeToLead #ReadersAreLeaders #The16UndeniableLawsOfCommunication #CommunicationSkills #JohnCMaxwell #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Leader is Influencer and a Reader: My Top 15 Book on Leadership Lists

“Leadership is influence” (John C. Maxwell)
“Leaders must be readers” (Kelsey Meyer)

A leader has two important characteristics: first, he is going somewhere; second, he is able to persuade other people to go with him. John C. Maxwell, one of my favourite authors, famously quote: “He that thinketh he leadeth, and hath no one following, is only taking a walk.” That is true! A leader is a person who is going somewhere – but not going alone. He takes others with him. His ability in setting up situations in which others are willing to follow him and happy to work with him is a precious skill called leadership.

“[Leadership] skill is make up of many qualities,” writes Walter MacPeek, “thoughtfulness and consideration for others, enthusiasm, the ability to share responsibility with others, and a multitude of other trails. But fundamentally a leader is one who leads, one who has a plan, one who keeps headed toward a goal and a purpose. He has the enthusiasm to keep moving forward in such a way that others gladly go with him.” Are you a kind of leader where people are following you or chasing you?

How to lead and getting others to want to do something you are convinced should be done? How to lead effectively? How to be a good influencer for others? How to be a leader that people want to follow? First and foremost, I think, to be a good leader one need to be a good follower. Then maybe one need to learn more about one leadership style, be a role model, be passionate, listen more than talking, having a teachable and positive attitude, encourage and able to motivate others, fear God and love people – and leader must be reader! This last point lead me to recommend you some of good books on leadership that I want to encourage you to read. Let us learn together.

My Top 15 Book on Leadership Lists (buy or borrow from me or steal it!):

1)    The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

2)    Ultimate Leadership 3-in-1 (The Winning Attitude, Developing the Leaders around You, Becoming a Person of Influence) by John C. Maxwell

3)    Ultimate Leadership: Maximize Your Potential and Empower Your Team (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leaders Within You, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork) by John C. Maxwell

4)    The Heart of a Leader: Insight on the Art of Influence by Ken Blanchard

5)    Leadership Style of Jesus by Michael Youssef

6)    Life is Tremendous by Charlie T. Jones

7)    Spiritual Discipleship: Principles of Following Christ for Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders

8)    Spiritual Leadership: A Commitment to Excellence for Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders

9)    Be Determine: Nehemiah by Warren Wiersbe

10) Jesus on Leadership by  C. Gene Wilkes

11) Launching a Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five Levels of Influence by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward

12) Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges

13) The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

14) The Book on Leadership by John MacArthur

15) The Bible – God on Leadership!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The Leader’s Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders (2020) by John C. Maxwell, Book Review

 

The Leader’s Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders (2020) 

by John C. Maxwell 

When I heard from a podcast that Maxwell’s newest book already arrived, I straightaway went to the bookstore and get it! One day I read this book at the coffee shop and my friend came to meet me. He was so shocked to see that the price is – RM59.90. He took the book from my hand and inspect the covers, thickness, and weight. After the inspection, he declares: “I can buy 3 meals with that money!” This is the classic clash of our values. He focuses on the loss; I focus on the gain. He thinks about his stomach; I think about my mind. He cannot afford to lose money; I cannot afford to be ignorant. Of course, if I can borrow this book or find the audiobook, I might do it. But since I want to grow in my leadership, a small price for knowledge and wisdom is reasonable. I love Desiderius Erasmus’s quote: “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.”

My judgment might be super bias - I love this book. Many so-called leaders don’t develop others to become their successors. In fact, for most people, the thought doesn’t even cross their minds. I’ve been in a position where my leaders don’t even intentionally equip me but 'hoping' that someday I will take the leadership position. It was just a talk, no follow up. Such an attitude is rampant around us. No wonder if you look at the government, the organizations, and churches today, there is always a leadership deficit. Mr. Maxwell says the United States doesn’t have enough good leaders – but I say, in Malaysia, we are experiencing a leadership famine. Yes, there are examples of good leadership in Malaysia, but very rare… or perhaps I’m too pessimistic. It's time for a new generation of young people to expose themselves to good leadership (books, mentors, examples), invest in their growth and as they become mature – develop leaders. Even the-not-so-young people who are reading this, it’s not too late to invest in others. But of course, the earlier you do it the better.

“The good news is that,” assured Mr. Maxwell, “leaders can be developed, and everyone wins when leaders develop other good leaders.” It will be challenging, take a long time and we will (no doubt) make mistakes but the Return of Investment (O.R.I.) is worthwhile. As I read this book, I’m convinced and compelled to develop the leaders around me. When I teach, I inform others. When I lead, I inspired others. When I develop leaders, I empowered a team. And with a team, we can achieve our dream. I may not (or couldn’t) follow all the process outline in this book, but I’m applying what I can for now. Thanks, John! “Success for leaders can be defined as the maximum utilization of the abilities of those working with them. There’s one way for a leader to help people maximize their abilities and reach their potential, and that is to help them develop as leaders.” How to do it? There are ten (10) steps: 1) IDENTIFYING LEADERS, 2) ATTRACTING LEADERS, 3) UNDERSTANDING LEADERS, 4) MOTIVATING LEADERS, 5) EQUIPPING LEADERS, 6) EMPOWERING LEADERS, 7) POSITIONING LEADERS, 8) MENTORING LEADERS, 9) REPRODUCING LEADERS, and 10) COMPOUNDING LEADERS. Skip 3 meals and buy this book!

#ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeader #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #JohnCMaxwell #TheLeadersGreatestReturn

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Drink Coffee with John Piper and with All the Authors

"You can never be the same once you found great books!"

John Piper,
pastor and writer

Reading is one of the best pleasures of disciplines I know of to stay motivated and inspired. Reading from a great book is like having a conversation with the author. Last night, for example, by reading John Piper’s Desiring God over a cup of coffee – I can get behind this godly-radical-brilliant man’s thoughts and learn what made him so passionate about bringing the Gospel into other people’s lives.

Want to hang out with Eugene Peterson later? Grab his book. Want to have a conversation with C.H. Spurgeon? Martin Luther? C.S. Lewis? Richard Foster? J.I. Packer? John Wesley? John Bunyan? John MacArthur? John White? John Stott? John C. Maxwell? Mother Teresa? St. Augustine? Bill Gates? A. Samad Said? Ibrahim Ali? Grab their books. Reading a book by someone you highly respect allow some of their influence to rub off on you. You can never be the same once you found great books!

I'm not born to love books; in fact, I hated it in the beginning. But once I discovered that book is God’s greatest tool of education (and of salvation – which I’m referring to the Bible, the greatest book of all), I devoted my life to read book every single day of my life. I make it a habit to at least a half an hour or an hour or two a day to reading. I bring books wherever I go, even when I go to toilet. That habit has transformed me into who I am today. I have books on leadership, Christian living, theology, relationships, motivational, philosophy, business, novel, (even) cooking etc. These books have shaped my thinking and formed my personal philosophy.

I believe that those who know how to read and not reading is better off if they didn’t know how to read at all.  Make the time to read something good each day. Robin Sharma writes, “Fill your mind with big ideas and dazzling thoughts. Use books to flood your soul with hope and inspiration. And remember, if you want to lead, you really need to read.” How true. How true.

THINK BIG Reading is not automatic; it’s a habit that needs to be cultivating day by day. START SMALL Start with a thinner book, chapter by chapter – I mean a real book not magazine, comic or newspaper: a real solid book. GO DEEP Various your readings. Get difference subjects and authors. Read to understand, to learned from it, by thinking about it, by analyze its content, practice what you treasured and share or teach others. Happy reading friends!