John Maxwell Leadership Quotes & Sayings

Talent is a gift, but our character is a choice. Talent is natural ability, our gift from God, but we have the power to determine our character. That power rests on a foundation consisting of the choices we make in life. And those choices almost always dictate the amount of trust others have in us, and to what level of leadership we rise. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is more disposition than position - influence others from wherever you are. — John C. Maxwell

Many people view leadership the same way they view success, hoping to go as far as they can, to climb the ladder, to achieve the highest position possible for their talent. But contrary to conventional thinking, I believe the bottom line in leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others. That is achieved by serving others and adding value to their lives. — John C. Maxwell

Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. — John C. Maxwell

Thank God for the tough times. They are the reason you are there - to be the leader. If everything was going well, the people wouldn't need you! — John C. Maxwell

Perhaps our greatest power in life is the power to choose. Without question, choices are the most determining factor in how our lives turn out. — John C. Maxwell

When talented teams don't win, examine the leadership. — John C. Maxwell

The leader continually passes on the vision to those who come around, knowing that dreams, if presented right, are contagious. — John C. Maxwell

Be generous, be humble, and be grateful when achieving your dreams. — John C. Maxwell

When leaders learn and live good values, they make themselves more valuable and lift the value of other people. That is the foundation of positive leadership. — John C. Maxwell

As a leader, you have to take responsibility for your own failures as well as successes. That's the only way you'll learn.
If you keep learning, you'll improve.
If you improve, your leadership will get better.
And in time, you will earn the right to lead on the level you deserve. — John C. Maxwell

Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you. — John C. Maxwell

True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It comes only from Influence. — John C. Maxwell

What is your legacy? Are you intentional about the sort of influence you want to have on the world around you? Being aware of how you want to be remembered gives you a perspective on what is truly important. Leadership is influence, and relationships are the foundation of leadership. Nothing is more predictive of your legacy than the quality of people you surround yourself with. — John C. Maxwell

The real test of leadership isn't where you start out. It's where you end up. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is evoking in others the capacity to dream. — John C. Maxwell

No matter where you are in your leadership journey, never forget that what got you to where you are won't get you to the next level. — John C. Maxwell

People who are not leaders automatically gravitate toward lines
limitations set by others. Many people are taught this in kindergarten when they are instructed to stay within the lines while coloring. But leaders are more creative than that. They look for options and opportunities. They try to take things in a new direction, or beyond the limit. Progress and innovation are made by people who think without lines. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership development is a lifetime journey, not a quick trip. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership ability determines a person's level of effectiveness. — John C. Maxwell

The leader finds the dream and then the people. The people find the leader and then the dream. — John C. Maxwell

To gain credibility, you must consistently demonstrate three things: Initiative: You have to get up to go up. Sacrifice: You have to give up to go up. Maturity: You have to grow up to go up. If you show the way, people will want to follow you. The higher you go, the greater the number of people who will be willing to travel with you. — John C. Maxwell

The higher you want to climb, the more you need leadership. The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be. Whatever you will accomplish is restricted by your ability to lead others. — John C. Maxwell

A highly credible leader under-promises and over-delivers. — John C. Maxwell

It's lonely at the top, so you better know why you are there. — John C. Maxwell

Values hold the team together, provide stability for the team to grow upon, measure the team's performance, give direction and guidance and attract like-minded people. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership deals with people and their dynamics, which are continually changing. The challenge of leadership is to create change and facilitate growth. — John C. Maxwell

The best leaders are humble enough to realise their victories depend upon their people. — John C. Maxwell

Knowing how to do a job is the accomplishment of labor - showing others is the accomplishment of the teacher - making sure the work is done by others is the accomplishment of the manager - inspiring others to do better work is the accomplishment of the leader. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership has less to do with position than it does with disposition. — John C. Maxwell

What I had been taught all my life was not true: experience is not the best teacher! Some people learn and grow as a result of their experience; some people don't. Everybody has some kind of experience. It's what you do with that experience that matters. — John C. Maxwell

In my first leadership position, I mistakenly thought that being named the leader meant that I was the leader. Back then I defined leading as a noun - as the position I was appointed to - not a verb - as what I was doing. Though I had been hired as the senior pastor, I quickly discovered the real leader of the church was a down-to-earth farmer named Claude, who had been earning his leadership influence through many positive actions over many years. He later explained it to me, saying, "John, all the letters — John C. Maxwell

Don't buy into the notion that mistakes can somehow be avoided. They can't be. — John C. Maxwell

Connecting is the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is the dream made reality. — John C. Maxwell

Every relationship in your organization will affect you one way or another. Those who do not increase you will inevitably decrease you. — John C. Maxwell

Good leaders understand that they are stewards. They must find the best people they can, giving them the opportunity to join in the journey developing them, and encouraging them to reach their potential. But they must hold on to people lightly. Those who start with you seldom finish with you. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership isn't about winning. It's about bringing people with you to the finish line. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is influence. It is the ability to obtain followers. When the leader lacks confidence, the followers have no commitment. A leader is great not because of his power, but because of his ability to empower others. — John C. Maxwell

Everything rises and falls on leadership. — John C. Maxwell

Tend to the people, and they will tend to the business. — John C. Maxwell

The first order of things to be changed is me, the leader. After I consider how hard it is to change myself, then I will understand the challenge of trying to change others. This is the ultimate test of leadership. — John C. Maxwell

Teams make you better than you are, multiply your value, enable you to do what you do best, allow you to help others do their best, give you more time, provide you with companionship, help you fulfill the desires of your heart and compound your vision and effort. — John C. Maxwell

Do you want to come climb the transformationa l leadership mountain with me? Your first step begins with DESIRE. Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? If your answer is yes, you can be that agent of change you wish to see around the world! — John C. Maxwell

The position does not make you a leader. The title, the promotion, the fancy corner office do not make you a leader. No, it is relationships with people that are the foundation, the very heart of leadership. Have you ever worked for someone you didn't like? It's difficult, isn't it? On the other hand, the leader you will follow anywhere and everywhere is one you know cares about you, and values you. This person has your best interests at heart. It is the leader who comes alongside to help you improve and grow. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership, like responsibility, is a voluntary act. — John C. Maxwell

Great communication depends on two simple skills-context, which attunes a leader to the same frequency as his or her audience, and delivery, which allows a leader to phrase messages in a language the audience can understand. — John C. Maxwell

Encourage the many; mentor the few. — John C. Maxwell

The true measure of leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less. — John C. Maxwell

If you want to be positive, upbeat, and passionate, you need to take responsibility for being that way. — John C. Maxwell

Needless to say, you can love people without leading them, but you cannot lead people without loving them. — John C. Maxwell

The better you are at surrounding yourself with people of high potential, the greater your chance for success. — John C. Maxwell

To succeed in life, we must stay within our strength zone but continually move outside our comfort zone. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is influence — John Maxwell

The best way to lose an enemy is to treat him like a friend. — John Maxwell

Leadership is seeing the possibilities in a situation while others are seeing the limitations. — John C. Maxwell

Leaders should get out of their comfort zone but stay in their strength zone. When their work lies within their natural gifting and strengths, leaders experience the greatest return in productivity and contentment. Life is too short to live in the comfort zone, where growing and accomplishing and achieving your potential takes a back seat. I suggest you refocus if the comfort zone is your leadership priority. — John C. Maxwell

As a leader, you will never get ahead until your people are behind you. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is taking responsibility while others are making excuses. — John C. Maxwell

But the law of magnetism really is true: who you are is who you attract. — John C. Maxwell

You are the only person who can label what you do a failure. Failure is subjective. — John C. Maxwell

I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in 1974, which marked a turning point in my leadership journey. I was sitting at a Holiday Inn with my friend, Kurt Campmeyer, when he asked me if I had a personal growth plan. I didn't. In fact, I didn't even know you were supposed to have one. — John C. Maxwell

Cats do what cats do, ducks do what ducks do, and eagles do what eagles, do. If you take a duck and ask it to do an eagles' job, shame on you. As a leader, your job is to help your ducks to become better ducks and your eagles better eagles - to put individuals in the right places and help them reach their potential. — John C. Maxwell

The great leaders in history were great not because of what they owned or earned but because of what they gave their lives to accomplish. They made a difference! — John C. Maxwell

Leadership involves the heavy burden of responsibility, and the fear of getting it wrong can paralyze a leader. — John C. Maxwell

Character creates consistency, and if your people know what they can expect from you, they will continue to look to you for leadership. — John C. Maxwell

The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them. — John C. Maxwell

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is not a right-it is a responsibility. — John C. Maxwell

The more intentional you are about your leadership growth, the greater your potential for becoming the leader you're capable of being. Never stop learning. — John C. Maxwell

People are training for success when they should be training for failure. — John C. Maxwell

It is hard to feel bad about yourself when you are doing something good for someone else. There are a lot of ways to lift your self-esteem, but making a positive difference in another's life has got to be my best leadership guidance. Serving others and working to add value to them will lift your spirits in a way that nothing else will. Trust me on this one. — John C. Maxwell

Successful leaders are like icebergs. When you look at an iceberg, you see only about 10 percent of it, and the rest of it is hidden under the water. When you look at successful leaders, you see only a fraction of their lives. You see the part that looks really good, but there's usually a lot that remains hidden that's neither exciting nor glamorous. Tennis star Arthur Ashe said, "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost." True leadership is the same. — John C. Maxwell

1. Experience: People who have been down the road of life and understand it. 2. Heart for God: People who place God first and uphold His values. 3. Objectivity: People who see the pros and cons of the issues. 4. Love for people: People who love others and value them more than things. 5. Complementary gifts: People who bring diverse gifts to the relationship. 6. Loyalty to the leader: People who truly love and are concerned for the leader. The Maxwell Leadership Bible — John C. Maxwell

Everyone of us has her/his own niche in life. There are lot of people I look up to, they inspire me and they will always influence my life. Here are some of those inspirational figures and their niches:
. Kenneth Hagin- A man of faith
. Myles Munroe- A man of Kingdom of God
. Mike Murdock- A man of wisdom
. Casey Treat- A man that has a heart for orphans
. Oscar Nkosi- A grounded teacher of God's word
. Matthew Ashimolowo- A man who raises champions
. John Maxwell- A man of leadership
. Reinhard Bonnke- A man of winning souls
. Mark Chironna- A man that delivers the fresh word from above. — Euginia Herlihy

Most people who want to get ahead do it backward. They think, 'I'll get a bigger job, then I'll learn how to be a leader.' But showing leadership skill is how you get the bigger job in the first place. Leadership isn't a position, it's a process. — John C. Maxwell

Personnel determines the potential of the team. Vision determines the direction of the team. Work ethic determines the preparation of the team. Leadership determines the success of the team. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is the willingness to put oneself at risk. — John C. Maxwell

Leaders have two characteristics: first they are going somewhere, and second they are able to persuade other people to go with them. — John C. Maxwell

Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow. — John C. Maxwell

Leaders will not experience long-term success unless a lot of people want them to. — John C. Maxwell

Seek advice, but make sure it's from someone who has successfully handled mistakes or adversities. — John C. Maxwell

Real leadership is not seeking the applause from followers; real leadership is applauding the followers who become leaders. — Onyi Anyado

Over time, is it easier or harder to sustain your influence within your organization? With charisma alone, influence becomes increasingly more difficult to sustain. With character, as time passes, influence builds and requires less work to sustain. — John C. Maxwell

As you start your day, are you wondering what you will reap, or are you wondering what you will sow? — John C. Maxwell

You don't become an effective leader by default. — John C. Maxwell

Find something you like to do so much that you would gladly do it for nothing; then learn to do it so well that people are happy to pay you for it. — John C. Maxwell

The purpose of leadership is to take others to the top. And when you take others who might not make it to the top otherwise, there's no other feeling like it in the world. To those who have never had the experience, you can't explain it. To those who have, you don't need to. — John C. Maxwell

Transmit your vision emotionally by gaining credibility, demonstrating passion, establishing relationships and communicating a felt need. Transmit it logically by confronting reality, formulating strategy, accepting responsibility, celebrating victory and learning from defeat. — John C. Maxwell

He that thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk. — John C. Maxwell

We cannot lead anyone farther than we have been ourselves. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. How do you gain influence from people? You invest in them. How do you invest in them? It starts with giving them time. — John C. Maxwell

Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many. — John C. Maxwell

How to prepare someone for leadership:
I do it.
I do it and you watch.
You do it and I watch.
You do it.
You do it and someone else watches. — John C. Maxwell

Inability to make decisions is one of the principal reasons executives fail. Deficiency in decision-making ranks much higher than lack of specific knowledge or technical know-how as an indicator of leadership failure. — John C. Maxwell

True Leadership always begins with the inner person. — John C. Maxwell

Everyone is a leader because everyone influences someone. — John C. Maxwell

While personal maturity may mean being able to see beyond yourself, leadership maturity means considering others before yourself. — John C. Maxwell

Progress does not occur without change. — John C. Maxwell

If you want to do a few small things right, do them yourself. If you want to do great things and make a big impact, learn to delegate. — John C. Maxwell