The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (1998) is a leadership book in which John Maxwell lists what he believes are the 21 most important principles of effective leadership.

TPM Take: Some Useful Leadership Principles, But Only Half the Picture
Maxwell focuses heavily on the pro-social side of leadership. But that’s only half the picture. Real-world leadership also involves followers’ (and leaders’) self-interest, power dynamics, competition, politics, incentives, manipulation, etc. etc.
At TPM, we therefore view leadership more realistically: great leadership requires both the ability to create value for others and the ability to understand and navigate power.

Overview

• To lead you need your followers’ respect
• Your leadership skills are the upper bound of your team’s effectiveness
• Leaders before vision: People buy leaders first, and only after, maybe, they’ll buy into visions
• Leaders put their people first

Notes

About the Author:
John Maxwell is an American pastor, author, and speaker. He is also the author of “25 Ways You Win With People“.

Introduction

To get the most out of the 21 laws of leadership you must first understand that the rules can be learned, and people can learn to become leaders.

#1 – THE LAW OF THE LID 

Your level of leadership is your level of effectiveness 

The law of the lid says that if you are at level 8 on a leadership scale, 8 is also your maximum effectiveness.

Maxwell gives the example of the McDonald’s franchise.
Ray Kroc controversially introduced himself as the founder of the company. But he wasn’t the founder, he bought the company.

Maxwell says that the previous owners of McDonald’s had lower leadership abilities than Kroc and that’s why they couldn’t maximize the company’s potential.

My Note:
I’m not sure the story in the example is really connected to leadership. I feel Kroc was probably more well-versed in business systems.

I enjoyed the example of a buy-out firm.
The firm management would always fire the leaders of the organization they bought. Of course, says Maxwell, that makes sense. An organization is always intrinsically limited by the ability of its leaders.

#2 – THE LAW OF INFLUENCE

The proof of leadership is in the followers

A leadership title does not make one a leader, says Maxwell.

Leadership must be earned through the people who want to follow you.
The final proof of leadership is in the followers.

The true measure of leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less

#5 – THE LAW OF ADDITION

Leaders add value by serving others

Maxwell says we become valuable when we provide value to others.

Maxwell stresses here the importance of providing value not just materially, but also at an interpersonal level (also read The Social Exchange Theory).

Knowing who the people are, what they care about, and what their goals and dreams are.
And assisting them along the way. Successful leaders also provide value by giving credit to the team.

Leaders Speak Last

Maxwell says that positional leaders are quick to speak.
But the successful leaders speak last.

And you will recognize the leaders because when you ask a question, everyone will look at them.

#6 – THE LAW OF SOLID GROUND 

Leadership is build upon foundations of trust

Maxwell says that leaders earn trust and respect by putting what’s best for the organization and the followers ahead of what’s best for themselves.

It’s important to keep your standards up because you cannot break trust and keep influencing people.

#7 – THE LAW OF RESPECT

You can only lead when you’re the strongest of the bunch

Strongest does not refer to muscles.

Strongest means that people respect you the most.
And when people don’t respect you anymore, your legitimacy as a leader also dissolves.

#8 – THE LAW OF INTUITION

Maxwell says the most successful leaders don’t need to spend hours on all the facts and details.
They develop intuition.

My note:
This isn’t really intuition, this is most of all experience.
With experience, we learn what’s important and what’s not important, so we can only focus on that 15% of information that will give us 90% of confidence.

#9 – THE LAW OF MAGNETISM

 Birds of a feather flock together

You will attract people who are like you.

People who work with you are not a consequence of HR or your company. If you’re not happy with the people around you, look within yourself first.

#10 – THE LAW OF CONNECTION

You can’t move to action unless you first move their hearts

Some leaders have an issue with the responsibility of the leadership to connect with the team.

They think they’re the leaders, so it’s up to others to step up to their plate.

But successful leaders take it upon themselves to build relationships and connect emotionally.

#12 – THE LAW OF EMPOWERMENT

Secure leaders empower others

Scared and weak leaders, like Henry Ford was, don’t want great men around them because they feel intimidated.

They prefer weak people, so they can feel strong and validated -and likely, they have a fixed mindset-.

Developing others and giving them responsibility is not only good for the people you empower but also for yourself.

The more you empower, the more powerful you become

#13 – THE LAW OF THE PICTURE

One example is worth a thousand pictures

Maxwell famously says that “people do what people see”.
Show with your actions what the right course of action is, not with your words.

#14 – THE LAW OF BUY-IN 

People buy leaders, then visions

You cannot separate a leader from the cause he champions.

People don’t follow worthy causes first, they follow worthy leaders who promote worthy causes (and sometimes, as history teaches, unworthy causes too).

#15 – THE LAW OF VICTORY 

Leaders find a way to win

Maxwell says that the best leaders share an unwillingness to accept defeat. And they keep going until they find a way to win.

#18 – THE LAW OF SACRIFICE 

To go up you have to give up

Leadership does come with certain perks but also comes with responsibilities and sacrifices.

Similar to the message Simon Sinek shares in Leader Eat Last, Maxwell says that leadership means putting others ahead of yourself.

#21 – THE LAW OF LEGACY 

Time is the ultimate test of leadership

Great leaders make sure to leave behind capable organizations and teams that will thrive even after long they have gone.

Review

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is a good book on leadership, listing several key mindsets and principles.
Yet, it’s also aspirational, and like most naive self-help, it completely omits power dynamics.

If you’re interested in how to be a leader in the real world, including politics, self-interest, competition, and manipulation dynamics, then this is what our training focuses on: winning for yourself while remaining honorable and also adding value: