Born in Garden City, MI, John C. Maxwell is one of the most celebrated experts on leadership. Pastoring churches in Florida, California, Ohio, and Indiana throughout his career, Maxwell has authored dozens of books, selling more than 20 million copies and publishing in more than 50 languages. As a New York Times Best Selling author, his books like The 360 Leader, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, and Developing the Leaders Around You have inspired millions of leaders and professionals across the world. His international leadership development organization EQUIP has helped professionals in more than 80 countries become the best leaders they can be.
A frequent speaker to Fortune 500 companies, Maxwell knows the importance of strong leadership built on bringing vision to fruition.
Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.
Many leaders struggle to see the forest for the trees, focusing on the minutia of the daily grind and failing to focus on the overall goal of their organizations. Without a vision, the organization will fail to succeed. As a leader, it’s important to clearly communicate the vision of the company and help create buy-in with the purpose of the organization.
And speaking of buy-in, it’s imperative to connect with your team members before expecting them to connect with your vision. As Maxwell puts it:
People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.
To unite people around a vision, mission, plan, or goal, the leader must be able to connect with others, inspire employees, and encourage others to be the best versions of themselves. In fact, encouragement is one of the strongest ways to inspire others. According to Maxwell:
A word of encouragement from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach their potential.
As a leader, it’s important to communicate vision and help those around them succeed in achieving an organization’s overall vision. Plans may change, but a resolute vision will separate your business from the rest of the pack.
Who are some of your favorite leaders? What have you learned by studying their work? Let us know in the comments section below!
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