Developing the Leader Within You

1. Developing the Leader Within You Dr. John C. Maxwell

2. The key to success in an endeavor is the ability to lead others successfully.

3. Leadership can be taught. Leadership is not an exclusive club for those who were “born with it.”

4. The Leading Leader • Is born with leadership qualities • Has seen leadership modeled throughout life • Has learned added leadership through training • Has self-discipline to become a great leader

5. The Learned Leader • Has seen leadership modeled most of life • Has learned leadership through training • Has self-discipline to be a great leader

6. The Latent Leader • Has just recently seen leadership modeled • Is learning to be a leader through training • Has self-discipline to become a good leader

7. The Limited Leader • Has little or no exposure to leaders • Has little or no exposure to leadership training • Has desire to become a leader

8. Accomplishments of a Leader • Knowing how to do a job is the accomplishment of labor • Showing others is the accomplishment of a teacher • Making sure the work is done by others is the accomplishment of a manager • Inspiring others to do better work is the accomplishment of a leader

9. Management vs. Leadership • Management – the process of assuring the program and objectives of the organization are implemented • Leadership – casting vision and motivating people

10. The Definition of Leadership: INFLUENCE

11. Insights About Influence • Everyone influences someone • We never know who or how much we influence • The best investment in the future is a proper influence today • Influence is a skill that can be developed

12. Five Levels of Leadership • Position • Permission • Production • People Development • Personhood

13. The Higher You Go… • The longer it takes • The higher the level of commitment • The easier it is to lead • The greater the growth

14. The Key to Leadership: PRIORITIES

15. Work Smarter, Not Harder • Organize or agonize • Choose or lose • Evaluate or stalemate

16. Priority Principles • Priorities never “stay put” • You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything • The good is the enemy of the best • You can’t have it all

17. Priority Principles • Too many priorities paralyze us • When little priorities demand too much of us, problems arise • Time deadlines and emergencies force us to prioritize • Too often we learn too late what is really important

18. Planning – Choose or Lose • What is required of me? • What gives me the greatest return? • What is most rewarding?

19. The Most Important Ingredient of Leadership: INTEGRITY

20. Why Integrity is Important • Integrity builds trust • Integrity has high influence value • Integrity facilitates high standards • Integrity results in a solid reputation, not just image

21. Why Integrity is Important • Integrity means living it myself before leading others • Integrity helps a leader be credible, not just clever • Integrity is a hard-won achievement

22. The Ultimate Test of Leadership: CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE

23. Why People Resist Change • The change isn’t self-initiated • Routine is disrupted • Change creates fear of the unknown • The purpose of the change is unclear

24. Why People Resist Change • Change creates fear of failure • The rewards for change don’t match the effort change requires • People are too satisfied with the way things are

25. Why People Resist Change • Change won’t happen when people engage in negative thinking • The followers lack respect for the leader • The leader is susceptible to feelings of personal criticism • Change may mean personal loss

26. Why People Resist Change • Change requires additional commitment • Narrow-mindedness thwarts acceptance of new ideas • Tradition resists change

27. Creating a Climate for Change • The leader must develop a trust with people • The leader must make personal changes before asking others to change • Good leaders understand the history of the organization • Place influencers in leadership positions

28. Creating a Climate for Change • Check the “change” in your pocket • Good leaders solicit the support of influencers before the change is made • Develop a meeting agenda that will assist change • Give people the ownership of the change

29. Creating a Climate for Change • Encourage the influencers to influence others informally • Show the people how the change will benefit them • Offer ownership of change to others

30. Reacting to Change • Innovators (2%) • Early adopters (10%) • Middle adopters (60%) • Late adopters (20%) • Laggards (8%)

31. Meetings that will Assist Change • Information items • Study items • Action items

32. The Quickest Way to Gain Leadership: PROBLEM-SOLVING

33. Reasons for Poor Performance • They do not know what they are supposed to do • They do not know how to do it • They do not know why they should • There are obstacles beyond their control

34. About Problems… • We all have problems • Problems give meaning to life • Many outstanding people have overcome problems in their lives • My problem is not my problem

35. About Problems… • A problem is something I can do something about • A test of a leader is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency • You can judge leaders by the size of the problems they tackle

36. About Problems… • Solve task-problems quickly; people-problems will take longer • The right attitude • The right action plan

37. The Problem-Solving Process • Identify the problem • Prioritize the problem • Define the problem • Select people to help you in the problem-solving process

38. Defining the Problem • Ask the right questions • Talk to the right people • Get the hard facts • Get involved in the process

39. Successful Solutions • Collect problem-solving solutions • Prioritize and select the “best” solutions • Implement the best solution • Evaluate the solution

40. The Extra Plus in Leadership: ATTITUDE

41. Attitude is our Most Important Asset • It is improbable that a person with a bad attitude can continuously be a success • We are responsible for our attitudes • It’s not what happens to me that matters, but what happens in me • The leader’s attitude helps determine the attitudes of the followers

42. Stages of Attitude Change • Identify problem feelings • Identify problem behavior • Identify problem thinking • Identify right thinking • Make a public commitment to right thinking • Develop a plan for right thinking

43. Developing Your Most Appreciable Asset: PEOPLE

44. Principles for People Development • Value of people • Commitment of people • Integrity with people • Standard for people • Influence over people

45. Assumptions About People • Everyone wants to feel worthwhile • Everyone needs and responds to encouragement • People “buy into” the leader before they “buy into” their leadership & vision • Most people do not know how to be successful • Most people are naturally motivated

46. What Motivates People? • Significant contributions • Goal participation • Positive dissatisfaction • Recognition • Clear expectations

47. What De-Motivates People? • Don’t belittle anyone • Don’t manipulate anyone • Don’t be insensitive • Don’t discourage personal growth

48. Relationships & Equity • People evaluate relationships by comparing what they give to what they get • When what people give doesn’t equal what they get, they feel distress • People who feel distress will restore equity

49. Giving the Right Assistance • Work out their strengths and work on their weaknesses • Give them myself • Give them ownership • Give them every chance for success

50. People Development Principles • People development takes time • People skills are essential for success • Be a model that others can follow • Lead others by looking through their eyes