Greetings and peace, fellow leaders.  In this post, you will discover the meaning of true humility and be invited to take John Maxwell’s 21 Laws of Leadership Self-evaluation.  This is not a sweet tasting dessert. It is a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and roughage, and it doesn’t taste bad either.  But the real benefit is how fit it makes you.

You already know you should be reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Follow Them and People will Follow You.  Speaking facetiously here, “Maybe you don’t need to improve your leadership.  Maybe you are already the strongest leader that can be.” No one, and I mean no one, has ever attained to that level of leadership other than Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah.  Every person who lived before or after him needs more leadership if they want to achieve their optimum success. We are no different.  

What level of success satisfies you?  Many people, Christians among them, have taken up residence on “Just Get Along Street”, and I do not blame them.  Everything there is modest, the traffic, the people, even the weather, and no one is pushed to excel at anything on “Just Get Along Street”.  It would be politically incorrect to change anything or to excel at something. However, everyone living there has a disease. It is called pride and arrogance.  “What? Those humble people on “Just Get Along Street” are prideful and arrogant? Nothing could be farther from the truth”, the neighbors would say. The neighbors would exclaim, “Those are some of the humblest people we know.”

The problem with the neighbor’s evaluation of the people on “Just Get Along Street” is they do not know the meaning of humble.  Unfortunately, those people are not humble, at least the Christians are not humble, they are prideful and arrogant. I cannot really say that about the sinners, perhaps they are humble and just lost.  Either case is a bad situation.

The reason those who are believers in Jesus Christ and not seeking to improve themselves and do more in their life for their King, glorifying his name, edifying the Church and serving the cause of the gospel is because they have begun to worship themselves.  See, by not seeking to be all they can be in Christ Jesus, they are literally saying, “I will set the standards for what I do. No one, not even King Jesus will tell me what to do. I like it here where I can relax and enjoy myself.” The true meaning of humility is submissive obedience to a higher authority.  Even though he made a mistake, that is the reason Moses was one of the most humble people to ever live, he obeyed God.

Being humble does not mean being laid back, soft-spoken, easy-going, choosing to let the societies of this world walk all over him or her.  Being humble means, “NOT MY WILL, LORD, BUT THY WILL BE DONE IN ME.” Now each one has differing abilities, God created us that way. I have a grandson who cannot walk, talk, or feed himself as others do.  But he can make a noise and move his arms and legs around. When it is time to worship, he does everything he can do to fulfill God’s call on his life, and that is enough. But I saw another person capable of being a concert pianist who moved into “Just Get Along Street” and joined the “Just Get Along Street Band.”  He and his comrades did not sound bad, one might even say they sounded pretty good. They just did not sound great. He was never signed to a recording contract, never played in a symphony, or produced the music of which he was capable. What an arrogant man. Instead of doing what God gifted him to do, he chose to do what he wanted to do.

Friend not only is it what God gifts you and me to do, he expects us to gain, that means increase, in what we do.  Consider Jesus’ parable of the talents. Remember Jesus’ remarks about “greater things than these will you do.” Think of the positions in his government he has placed every believer as an ambassador of the Kingdom of heaven to the governments of this world.  You, dear friend, were created for more. That you are not there is not the problem that leads to pride and arrogance. That happens when someone becomes complacent and “settles” for something less than God designed them to do to glorify his name, to edify the Church, and to serve the message of the gospel.  When one sets aside their own desires and seeks to fulfill their God-given role in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, that person is being humble.

I am challenging you to become the leader God called you to be.  It is not right to allow one’s self to be the complacent Christian living on “Just Get Along Street” that the flesh enjoys and demands of the individual.

As a leader, if the highest leader you can be is a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, then be the best ONE you can be, and it will be glorifying to God.  But a 5, which is average, by someone God called to be a 7 is a disgrace for the King. It is like one of his servants showing up to serve the fine foods at the banquet still dressed in the clothes used to slop the hogs and wash the dogs.  It is just unacceptable.

When speaking of excelling here, it is not a version of the prosperity gospel.  No, to the contrary, it is acknowledging the leader is the prisoner of Jesus Christ, a slave for the King, who is a child of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ who is glorifying the holy name of Jesus.  Focus on Jesus and Follow His Plan.

At one point, I had thought about walking you through the 21 Laws of Leadership.  But then I realized, if I did that, I would be cheating you out of so much. John Maxwell has been teaching the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership for more than 2 decades.  So, instead, I have copied his 21 Laws Leadership Evaluation and shared it with you.

Be encouraged, please.  Wherever you are right now, you can improve.  Everyone is capable of growth by the grace of God through the Holy Spirit, and that means you and me, friend.

As written by John Maxwell and included in yesterday’s post,

1. The laws can be learned. Some are easier to understand and apply than others, but every one of them can be acquired.

2. The laws can stand alone. Each law complements all the others, but you don’t need one in order to learn another.

3. The laws carry consequences with them. Apply the laws, and people will follow you. Violate or ignore them, and you will not be able to lead others.

4. These laws are the foundation of leadership. Once you learn the principles, you have to practice them and apply them to your life.

Every time you learn and apply something from one of the laws, you are a better leader.  Consider this analogy. A well-developed engine, transmission, frame, driveline, steering, suspension, and wheels are put together in a wonderful plan that is efficient and capable of traveling at great speeds.  Unfortunately, to impress people, the one to whom it was given put a transparent box around the whole device with a large square front that served as wonderful wind block. The vehicle could not travel fast like it was called to do.  Oh, it did okay, at lower speeds. But when pulled onto a racetrack, it lost every time. Why? Because its owner did not know about the law of aerodynamics and other laws of physics. Then one day, one day, someone helped him exchange that large square box for an aerodynamic and sleek design.  That man and his vehicle were unstoppable. He never lost another race and his fuel efficiency was a big bonus.

So it is with your leadership, fellow leader.  Even if you learn and apply one law in some way, you will improve your leadership and productivity for the Kingdom of heaven.  If you become a diligent disciple of leadership, you win every race and become unstoppable as Christ has called you to be.

Measure yourself, see where you are strong and where you are weak.  Where you are is no shame. Staying there when you can do better for the Master is a sin.  I am here to serve you so you can reach heights I can’t even see. That is my job as a fellow leader. 

John Maxwell’s: 21 LAWS LEADERSHIP EVALUATION

 Read each statement below and score yourself for each, using the following scale:

 0 Never 

 1 Rarely 

 2 Occasionally 

 3 Always 

1. THE LAW OF THE LID

 Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s Level of Effectiveness

1. a) When faced with a challenge, my first thought is, Who can I enlist to help? not What can I do?

2. b) When my team, department, or organization fails to achieve an objective, my first assumption is that it’s some kind of leadership issue.

3. c) I believe that developing my leadership skills will increase my effectiveness dramatically.

 TOTAL 

2. THE LAW OF INFLUENCE

 The True Measure of Leadership Is Influence—Nothing More, Nothing Less

1. a) I rely on influence rather than on my position or title to get others to follow me or do what I want.

2. b) During discussions or brainstorming settings, people turn to me and ask for my advice.

3. c) I rely on my relationships with others rather than organizational systems and procedures to get things done.

 TOTAL 

3. THE LAW OF PROCESS

 Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day

1. a) I have a concrete, specific plan for personal growth that I engage in weekly.

2. b) I have found experts and mentors for key areas of my life with whom I engage on a regular basis.

3. c) To promote my professional growth, I have read at least six books (or taken at least one worthwhile class or listened to twelve or more audio lessons) per year for the last three years.

 TOTAL 

4. THE LAW OF NAVIGATION

 Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course

1. a) I spot problems, obstacles, and trends that will impact the outcome of initiatives the organization puts into place.

2. b) I can clearly see a pathway for the implementation of a vision, including not only the process but also the people and resources needed.

3. c) I am called upon to plan initiatives for the department or organization.

 TOTAL 

5. THE LAW OF ADDITION

 Leaders Add Value by Serving Others

1. a) Rather than being annoyed when team members have issues preventing them from doing their jobs effectively, I see the issues as an opportunity to serve and help those people.

2. b) I look for ways to make things better for the people I lead.

3. c) I find great personal satisfaction in helping other people become more successful.

 TOTAL 

6. THE LAW OF SOLID GROUND

 Trust Is the Foundation of Leadership

1. a) The people I lead confide in me regarding sensitive issues.

2. b) When I tell someone in the organization that I will do something, he can count on me to follow through.

3. c) I avoid undermining others or talking behind their backs.

TOTAL

7. THE LAW OF RESPECT

 People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger Than Themselves

1. a) People are naturally drawn to me and often want to do things with me just to spend time with me.

2. b) I go out of my way to show respect and loyalty to the people I lead.

 c)I make courageous decisions and take personal risks that could benefit my followers even if there is no benefit to me.

 TOTAL 

8. THE LAW OF INTUITION

 Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

1. a) I can easily gauge morale, whether in a room full of people, on a team, or in an organization.

2. b) I often take the right action as a leader even if I cannot explain why.

3. c) I can read situations and sense trends without having to gather hard evidence.

 TOTAL 

9. THE LAW OF MAGNETISM

 Who You Are Is Who You Attract

1. a) I am satisfied with the caliber of people who report to me.

2. b) I expect the people I attract to be similar to me in values, skills, and leadership ability.

3. c) I recognize that no personnel process can improve the quality of people I recruit compared to improving myself.

 TOTAL 

10. THE LAW OF CONNECTION

 Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand

1. a) When I am new to a leadership situation, one of the first things I try to do is to develop a personal connection with the individuals involved.

2. b) I know the stories, hopes, and dreams of the people I lead.

3. c) I avoid asking people to help accomplish the vision until we have built a relationship that goes beyond the nuts and bolts of our work together.

 TOTAL 

11. THE LAW OF THE INNER CIRCLE

 A Leader’s Potential Is Determined by Those Closest to Him

1. a) I am strategic and highly selective about which people are closest to me personally and professionally.

2. b) I regularly rely on some key people in my life to help accomplish my goals.

3. c) I believe that 50 percent or more of the credit for my accomplishments goes to the people on my team.

 TOTAL 

12. THE LAW OF EMPOWERMENT

 Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others

1. a) I embrace change easily and become dissatisfied with the status quo.

2. b) I believe that no matter how talented the people who work for me are, my position is secure.

3. c) It is my regular practice to give people I lead the authority to make decisions and take risks.

 TOTAL 

13. THE LAW OF THE PICTURE

 People Do What People See

1. a) If I observe an undesirable action or quality in team members, I check for it in myself first before addressing it with them.

2. b) I am continually working to try to make my actions and words consistent with one another.

3. c) I do what I should rather than what I want because I am conscious that I am setting an example for others.

 TOTAL 

14. THE LAW OF BUY- IN

 People Buy into the Leader, Then the Vision

1. I recognize that a lack of credibility can be as harmful to an organization as a lack of vision.

2. I wait until I see that most of the people on the team have confidence in me before asking for a commitment to the vision.

1. c) Even when my ideas are not very good, my people tend to side with me.

 TOTAL 

15. THE LAW OF VICTORY

 Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win

1. a) When I lead a team, I feel ultimate responsibility for whether it achieves its goals.

2. b) If members of my team are not unified in their efforts to achieve the vision, I take action to get them on the same page.

3. c) I make personal sacrifices to help ensure victory for my team, department, or organization.

 TOTAL 

16. THE LAW OF THE BIG MO

 Momentum Is a Leader’s Best Friend

1. a) I am enthusiastic and maintain a positive attitude every day for the sake of my team members.

2. b) Whenever I make a major leadership decision, I consider how that decision will impact momentum in my team, department, or organization.

3. c) I initiate specific actions with the purpose of generating momentum when introducing something new or controversial.

 TOTAL

17. THE LAW OF PRIORITIES

 Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment

1. a) I avoid tasks that are not required by my leadership, don’t have a tangible return, or don’t reward me personally.

2. b) I set aside time daily, monthly, and yearly to plan my upcoming schedule and activities based on my priorities.

3. c) I delegate any task for which a team member can be at least 80 percent as effective as I could be.

 TOTAL

18. THE LAW OF SACRIFICE

 A Leader Must Give Up to Go Up

1. a) I know making trade-offs is a natural part of leadership growth, and I make sacrifices to become a better leader as long as they don’t violate my values.

2. b) I expect to give more than my followers do in order to accomplish the vision.

3. c) I will give up my rights in order to reach my potential as a leader.

 TOTAL

19. THE LAW OF TIMING

 When to Lead Is As Important As What to Do and Where to Go

1. a) I expend as much effort figuring out the timing for an initiative as I do figuring out the strategy.

2. b) I will launch something using a less-than-ideal strategy because I know the timing is right.

3. c) I can sense whether or not people are ready for an idea.

 TOTAL

20. THE LAW OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH

 To Add Growth, Lead Followers—To Multiply, Lead Leaders

1. a) I believe that I can grow my organization more rapidly by developing leaders than by any other method.

2. b) I spend a significant amount of time every week investing in the development of the top 20 percent of my leaders.

3. c) I would rather see leaders I develop succeed out on their own than keep them with me so that I can keep mentoring them.

 TOTAL

21. THE LAW OF LEGACY

 A Leader’s Lasting Value Is Measured by Succession

1. a) I possess a strong sense of why I am in my job and why I am leading.

2. b) In each position I’ve held, I have identified people who can carry on after me, and I have invested in them.

1. One of my strongest motivations is to leave any team I lead better than I found it.

TOTAL

 Now that you have completed the evaluation, examine each law and note your strengths and weaknesses. Use the following guidelines to help you proceed.

 8–9 This law is in your strength zone. Make the most of this skill and mentor others in this area.

 5–7 Target this law for growth. You have potential to make it a strength.

 0–4 This is a weakness. Hire staff with this strength or partner with others in this area.

It is my hope this has been enough to inspire you to pursue becoming the leader God called you to be.  I think a good start on that is understanding the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. This blog is not to guide you through these resources.  The resources themselves are designed to do that. This blog is to introduce you to them and the benefit they can bring to you. From here we will be looking at other resources that have been helpful for me and many, many others.  Do not despair, please, even the authors of these resources readily confess they too are growing in understanding and application of leadership and most of them are old people, some even older than me.

If you are old, it is a great time to start improving your leadership.  If you are young, God has chosen to bless you with the potential for even higher productivity for himself.  As long as there is breath in the person, there is opportunity to glorify God. Be strong and courageous in Christ Jesus as you FOCUS ON JESUS AND FOLLOW HIS PLAN.