The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - SUMMARY

This is a summary of the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. This book carries the subtitle: "Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow".

What do you dream of?
In your wildest imagination, what do you see yourself doing?
Now, what is standing between you and that dream?
The answer is Leadership.

Everything rises and falls on leadership, but knowing how to lead is only half the battle. Understanding leadership and actually leading are two different activities.

Part of any leader's development comes from learning the laws of leadership, for those are the tools that teach how leadership works. But leaders are effective because of who they are on the inside. To get to the highest level of leadership, you must develop these character qualities from the inside out.
 

1. Quality #1 = Character: be a piece of the rock.
2. Quality #2 = Charisma: the first impression can seal the deal.
3. Quality #3 = Commitment: it separates doers from dreamers.
4. Quality #4 = Communication: without it you travel alone.
5. Quality #5 = Competence: if you build it, they will come.
6. Quality #6 = Courage: one person with courage is majority.
7. Quality #7 = Discernment: put an end to unsolved mysteries.
8. Quality #8 = Focus: the sharper it is, the sharper you are.
9. Quality #9 = Generosity: your candle loses nothing when it lights another.
10. Quality #10 = Initiative: you won't leave home without it.
11. Quality #11 = Listening: to connect with their hearts, use your ears.
12. Quality #12 = Passion: take this life and love it.
13. Quality #13 = Positive Attitude: if you believe you can, you can.
14. Quality #14 = Problem Solving: you can't let your problems be a problem.
15. Quality #15 = Relationships: if you get along, they'll go along.
16. Quality #16 = Responsibility: if you won't carry the ball, you can't lead the team.
17. Quality #17 = Security: competence never compensates for insecurity.
18. Quality #18 = Self-Discipline: the first person you lead is you.
19. Quality #19 = Servanthood: to get ahead, put others first.
20. Quality #20 = Teachability: to keep leading, keep learning.
21. Quality #21 = Vision: you can seize only what you see.

The only way to become the kind of leader that people want to follow is to keep growing and learning about leadership. Be intentional in your journey!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc