45 pages • 1 hour read
John C. MaxwellThe 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Index of Terms
Influence
John C. Maxwell argues that influence is a quality by which to measure every leader. He defines it as the ability to gather a group, gain their trust and respect, and mobilize them for a specific cause. Aspiring leaders might be able to gain a small group of followers, but they often have difficulty inspiring them to act toward a specific goal. The greatest leaders can compel others to follow in their steps and dedicate themselves to the leader’s vision.
Intuition
Intuition is the ability to gauge intangible factors such as momentum, mood, and timing, which can affect a leader’s decision-making. Although natural leaders are born with good intuition, Maxwell believes it is a skill that any aspiring leader can learn.
Leadership Ability
Leadership ability, when lacking, is one of two things that can limit a leader’s effectiveness. To increase leadership ability, aspiring leaders must find ways to improve themselves. For example, if they are poor orators or have trouble connecting with others, they must work on these areas before they can see an increase in their influence.
Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle, developed by management consultant Joseph M. Juran, stipulates that in many scenarios, 80% of consequences are caused by the top 20% forces of influence. Maxwell reprises this concept in Chapter 17 to underscore the importance of the Law of Priorities: Leaders who wish for success must identify and prioritize the top 20% of their people rather than equally distribute their time.
