What about the person who's new to leadership? I would have to grade the book much lower, probably a 2 or 3. Somewhere in the middle of the book (probably between chapters 5-7), most people new to leadership would lose the thread. It's just a little too condensed. In addition, I just didn't think that several of the examples worked for the point they attempted to make. For instance, Dr. Maxwell could have found more meaningful examples for me than Princess Diana and Roberto Goizueta if I were a new leader. I would nominate instead Barbara Bush for her caring and Frances Hesselbein for preparing successors.
Here are the book's structure and key examples for its 108 jam-packed pages:
Part I: The Development of a Leader
1. Why Should I Grow as a Leader? The McDonald brothers versus Ray Kroc in developing McDonalds.
2. How Can I Grow as a Leader? Teddy Roosevelt
Part II: The Traits of a Leader
3. How Can I Become Disciplined? Jerry Rice
4. How Should I Prioritize My Life? Paul Tsongas
5. How Do I Develop Trust? Billy Graham
6. How Can I Effectively Cast Vision? Walt Disney
Part III: The Impact of Leader
7. Why Is Influence Important? Princess Diana
8. How Does Influence Work? Robert Dilenschneider
9. How Can I Extend My Influence? His father
10. How Can I Make My Leadership Last? Roberto Goizueta
Finally, what's the best part of the book? For me, it was the repetition of the Law of the Lid: Your ability to accomplish things is circumscribed until you can energize others in the same purpose. There's a nice set of graphic displays to make this point.
As a technical note, some of the information in the examples seemed dated. I don't believe that Mr. Dilenschneider has been head of Hill & Knowlton for many years . . . yet that's the way he is described. Roberto Goizueta's hand-picked successor at Coca-Cola, Douglas Ivester, did not work out (although he is described as a great success here) and had to be replaced. Paul Tsongas later reentered politics to run for president rather than smelling the roses with his family (even though he had had a recurrence of the cancer that soon killed him). It's almost as though these examples were all written a number of years ago, and not revisited.
Draw inspiration from your vision of serving others . . . and get busy!
* follow your vision and bring others with you
* produce a lasting legacy
* grow the lotalty of your followers
* determine your leadership "lid"
* create a foundation of trust
Great book that belongs in your briefcase or purse and by your bedside to review every day.Tips, tricks, techniques, insight, keys to self-confidence Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs To Know by John Maxwell (a gifted public speaker and the founder of "INJOY", an organization helping people maximizing their personal and leadership potential) is a concise and profound guidebook to unlocking one's inner potential to influence, motivate, and unite others toward a common goal. Tips, tricks, techniques, insight, keys to self-confidence and more fill this practical and resourceful pocket resource. Leadership 101 is strongly recommended, highly rewarding reading for anyone with leadership responsibilities or aspirations.
