Servant Leadership is...tossed in the leadership salad like crotons
Leadership Expert Says Crisis Gives Opportunities
John Maxwell focuses on relationships, influence, making connections.
By Cary McMullen
THE LEDGER
Published: Monday, May 4, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 4, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.
Someone remarked to John Maxwell just after the November election that with all the problems facing the country, he wouldn't want to be in Barack Obama's shoes. Maxwell had a different take.
John Maxwell, author and nationally recognized expert on leadership, at a leadership conference held near Alturas, Florida, on April 30, 2009PIERRE DUCHARME | THE LEDGER
"I said, 'I'd love to be president right now.' What an opportunity! If you look at the American presidents we've so highly esteemed, they took America through difficult times," he said. "In a difficult time, leaders emerge."
Maxwell is a student of leadership. A pastor, author, consultant and speaker, he has made an international name for himself as an authority on leadership. His book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership," published in 1998, has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, he said.
Maxwell, 62, who lives in Jupiter, is an occasional visitor to Polk County. His brother is Polk County developer Larry Maxwell, and his father, the Rev. Melvin Maxwell, lives here also.
On Thursday, at his brother's ranch near Alturas, Maxwell led a private roundtable session on leadership for about 65 local community and business leaders. It was the second year Maxwell has led the roundtable, a fundraising event for Discovery, a program at Lakeland Christian School for families with autistic and special needs students.
Maxwell began his career in 1970 as a pastor, following in his father's footsteps. By 1995, he was senior pastor of a megachurch in San Diego. Over the years, he wrote books to help pastors understand principles of leadership. Then he learned that two-thirds of the people buying his books were in the secular market, in corporate, government and nonprofit sectors. Maxwell decided to leave the ministry and take up speaking and writing on leadership full time.
"I've been teaching the subject since 1974," Maxwell said. "There's such a need for (leadership). When times get difficult, it's even more in demand. I've never gone to a company and they say, 'You know, we have too many good leaders.' I've never been to an educational institution and they say, 'We've got an excess of good leaders and we need to weed some out.'"
Instead of offering techniques, Maxwell specializes in what he calls "the soft side" of leadership, focusing on relationships, influence and making connections. He said before people will follow a leader, they ask three questions: Can you help me? Do you care about me? Can I trust you?
Not surprisingly, he said his principles of leadership are taken from the Bible. Maxwell pushes "servant leadership," a philosophy with a heavy dose of humility that he said works even in the competitive corporate climate.
"A big thing in the corporate market is how you can serve your clients. Another is valuing people. I learned that watching the life of Christ," he said.
Kevin Knowlton, a lawyer with Peterson Myers in Lakeland and chairman of the board of Lakeland Christian School, attended Thursday's roundtable and said Maxwell talked about the necessity for leaders to reassess their values in difficult times.
"He said leaders and individuals tend to grow more in times of adversity. In America now, we're focusing more on what's important in life. Maybe we weren't as good as we thought we were," he said. "It's common sense, but sometimes we forget the simple things."
With regard to Obama, Maxwell said he has shown "some very good leadership qualities."
"He's very clear. He's not afraid to put his name on the line. He understands the value of constant communication. He seems to be able to have good people around him. And he has the ability and the desire to listen," he said.
John Maxwell focuses on relationships, influence, making connections.
By Cary McMullen
THE LEDGER
Published: Monday, May 4, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 4, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.
Someone remarked to John Maxwell just after the November election that with all the problems facing the country, he wouldn't want to be in Barack Obama's shoes. Maxwell had a different take.
John Maxwell, author and nationally recognized expert on leadership, at a leadership conference held near Alturas, Florida, on April 30, 2009PIERRE DUCHARME | THE LEDGER
"I said, 'I'd love to be president right now.' What an opportunity! If you look at the American presidents we've so highly esteemed, they took America through difficult times," he said. "In a difficult time, leaders emerge."
Maxwell is a student of leadership. A pastor, author, consultant and speaker, he has made an international name for himself as an authority on leadership. His book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership," published in 1998, has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, he said.
Maxwell, 62, who lives in Jupiter, is an occasional visitor to Polk County. His brother is Polk County developer Larry Maxwell, and his father, the Rev. Melvin Maxwell, lives here also.
On Thursday, at his brother's ranch near Alturas, Maxwell led a private roundtable session on leadership for about 65 local community and business leaders. It was the second year Maxwell has led the roundtable, a fundraising event for Discovery, a program at Lakeland Christian School for families with autistic and special needs students.
Maxwell began his career in 1970 as a pastor, following in his father's footsteps. By 1995, he was senior pastor of a megachurch in San Diego. Over the years, he wrote books to help pastors understand principles of leadership. Then he learned that two-thirds of the people buying his books were in the secular market, in corporate, government and nonprofit sectors. Maxwell decided to leave the ministry and take up speaking and writing on leadership full time.
"I've been teaching the subject since 1974," Maxwell said. "There's such a need for (leadership). When times get difficult, it's even more in demand. I've never gone to a company and they say, 'You know, we have too many good leaders.' I've never been to an educational institution and they say, 'We've got an excess of good leaders and we need to weed some out.'"
Instead of offering techniques, Maxwell specializes in what he calls "the soft side" of leadership, focusing on relationships, influence and making connections. He said before people will follow a leader, they ask three questions: Can you help me? Do you care about me? Can I trust you?
Not surprisingly, he said his principles of leadership are taken from the Bible. Maxwell pushes "servant leadership," a philosophy with a heavy dose of humility that he said works even in the competitive corporate climate.
"A big thing in the corporate market is how you can serve your clients. Another is valuing people. I learned that watching the life of Christ," he said.
Kevin Knowlton, a lawyer with Peterson Myers in Lakeland and chairman of the board of Lakeland Christian School, attended Thursday's roundtable and said Maxwell talked about the necessity for leaders to reassess their values in difficult times.
"He said leaders and individuals tend to grow more in times of adversity. In America now, we're focusing more on what's important in life. Maybe we weren't as good as we thought we were," he said. "It's common sense, but sometimes we forget the simple things."
With regard to Obama, Maxwell said he has shown "some very good leadership qualities."
"He's very clear. He's not afraid to put his name on the line. He understands the value of constant communication. He seems to be able to have good people around him. And he has the ability and the desire to listen," he said.
posted by The I Ching Capers at 8:29 AM
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