#11 The Law of the Inner Circle

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - John C. Maxwell

#11 The Law of the Inner Circle - A Leader’s Potential Is Determined by Those Closest to Them

 Every leader’s potential is determined by the people closest to them.  No matter what you do with your staff, sometimes you will never be able to take the organization to the place you need to go.  If the staff is strong, the leader can make a huge impact.  If the staff are weak, a leaders impact is limited.  This is the Law of the Inner Circle. 

 THREE PHASES TO SKYROCKET NEW GROWTH FOR STAGNATING ORGANIZATIONS

The task as a new leader is clear.  You need to remove the weak leaders and bring in better ones (this is the only way to turn a business around). 

PHASE 1 - Replace the bottom third of the organization with GOOD Leaders

PHASE 2 - Replace the middle third with BETTER Leaders (through natural attrition)

PHASE 3 - Replace the top third with BEST Leaders (through natural attrition)

EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS AN INNER CIRCLE

There is no Lone Ranger leaders.  If you’re alone, you’re not leading…

Leaders find greatness in the group, and he or she helps the members find it in themselves. 

THE BEST DON’T ALWAYS DO THE BEST

In order to be the best you need to be surrounded by the best…

THE VALUE OF RAISING UP THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN YOUR INNER CIRCLE

Under the best circumstances, a leader should try to raise up the people for their inner circle from within the organization.  There are 3 groups of people in an organization when it comes to their response to leadership and impact:

  1. Those who get it almost immediately and they’re off and running with it
  2. Those who are skeptical and not sure what to do with it
  3. Another third who start out negative and hope it will go away

Great leaders don’t spend a lot of time with negative resources in group 3 and trying to get them to change.  Instead, they invest their time with their best assets.  This investment pays rich dividends in the future. 

TRY TO BRING 5 TYPES OF PEOPLE INTO YOUR INNER CIRCLE

  1. POTENTIAL VALUE - Those who raise up themselves (i.e. self-motivated)
  2. POSITIVE VALUE - Those who raise morale in the organization (people who lift up others are invaluable)
  3. PERSONAL VALUE - Those who raise up the leader (It’s lonely at the top, so you need to take someone with you)
  4. PRODUCTION VALUE - Those who raise up others (people that have an eye for attracting and developing talent)
  5. PROVEN VALUE - Those who raise up people who raise up other people (The greatest value to any leader is someone who can raise up other leaders)

NEVER STOP IMPROVING YOUR INNER CIRCLE

When leaders get to the point where they can no longer work harder or smarter the Law of the Inner Circle can fully be understood. 

Hire the best staff you can find, develop them as much as you can, and hand off everything you possibly can to them. 

Success comes not from what you know, but from who you know and how you present yourself to each of those people.” - Lee Iacocca

#11 The Law of the Inner Circle - A Leader’s Potential Is Determined by Those Closest to Them

 Here is a url to obtain this wonderful read. https://www.amazon.com/21-Irrefutable-Laws-Leadership-Anniversary/dp/0785288376

I hope this book provides you with guidance along your journey.