Leadership 101
John C. Maxwell, Copyright 2002
by Maxwell Motivation, Inc.109 pages
John C. Maxwell is smart, as well as practical. But don't just take this reviewer's word for it--certainly not when you can quickly and easily read it in Maxwell's own words. Dr. J. C. Maxwell--founder of a leadership institute known as the Injoy Group--is author of the REAL Leadership Series, four hardcover booklets (a hundred pages each, more or less). This quite portable collection's title is, of course, an acronym: R = Realistic; E = Equipping; A = Attitude; L = Leadership.
Maxwell's credentials and reputation are built upon his expertise in leadership. So, we begin with the theme-book of the series, Leadership--besides, it was the first published of the four topics. The good news is that Maxwell's run-down on leadership is concise, simple, accessible and immediately applicable. For example, early-on Maxwell informs us that at a minimum, each of us influences ten other people in our lifetime. The author suggests "it's not whether you influence someone, but how you will use your influence." Inspirational? Yes, indeed. Axiomatic? Perhaps. Maxwell regularly utters such proclamations, but offers no bibliography, and few scholarly references. Nevertheless, we can be grateful for the short-list of endnotes that he has made available. After all, how many hundred page readers offer direction (leadership?) to further resources?
Moreover, while Maxwell's approach may often seem trite, clichéd and, at times, even like corporate propaganda-- the hoary, and dubious, account of Ray Kroc's buy-out of the MacDonald brother's Central California hamburger stand, making him the Golden (Arches) Child of fast food comes to mind. Nevertheless, the author's grasp of leadership technique and models of human potential are more than one might bargain for in what amounts to an old-fashion essay.
Full of stories and examples that embody the stated notions of leadership--the anecdote on Teddy Roosevelt raising himself from sickly little boy to uber-outdoorsman and on to the American Presidency is memorably mythological and super-patriotic in tone--Maxwell's theological (he's also a Christian minister) and USA-centric biases radiate through the tiny-tome like light through a porous napkin; yet there's no question as to Maxwell's purpose and message: We all influence others; leadership is nothing more than the ability to influence; leadership skills can be learned, improved and continually increased. Each chapter begins with an opening statement. Chapter Seven (out of ten) starts as follows: "The true measure of leadership is influence--nothing more, nothing less."
For readers interested in a brief-read and sturdy lesson on leadership, Maxwell gives a taut tutorial on the perplexing subject that requires a minimum investment of time. That's a smart and practical approach to the topic.
Ben Miles, National University |
