#8 The Law of Intuition

From the book “The 21 Laws of Leadership” by John C. Maxwell

#8 The Law of Intuition - Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

The Law of Intuition is probably the most difficult to understand because it depends on so much more than just the facts when it comes to leadership.  Facts are essential, however, instinct and other intangible factors are also important.  In reality, leadership intuition is often the factor that separates the greatest leaders from the merely good ones.  

THE BEST LEADERS READ AND RESPOND

It’s not what college you went to or what subjects you studied that make you a truly great leader.  Great leaders read the situation, make the right decision, and execute the WIN.  The great leaders see things others can’t, make changes, and move forward before others know what’s happening.  

IT’S INFORMED INTUITION

A leader has to read the situation and know instinctively what decision to make.  Those decisions are made based on a leaders years of experience, by putting in the work to know the business, and by their business intuition.

LEADERSHIP IS THEIR BIAS

Leaders see everything with a leadership bias, and as a result, they instinctively, almost automatically, know what to do.  You can see this read-and-react instinct in all great leaders.  

SEEING THROUGH A LEADERSHIP LENS

In instances where morale is low, it’s imperative to develop your front line leadership team and provide clear direction and a sense of purpose.  If this is done consistently, morale will improve and you will become more effective in implementing your mission. As time goes on your organization will have strong morale.  

ANOTHER LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

People need a goal to galvanize them.  

HOW LEADERS THINK

Some people are born with great leadership intuition.  Others have to work hard to develop and hone it.  But either way it evolves, the result is a combination of natural and learned skills.  This informed intuition causes leadership issues to jump out.  The best way to describe this bias is an ability to get a handle on intangible factors, understand them, and work to accomplish leadership goals.  

Intuition helps leaders become readers of the numerous intangibles of leadership:  LEADERS ARE READERS OF THEIR SITUATION.  In all kinds of circumstances, they capture details that elude others.

Natural ability and learned skills create an informed intuition that makes leadership issues jump out.

LEADERS ARE READERS OF TRENDS

Everything that happens around us does os in the context of a bigger picture.  Leaders have the ability to step back from what’s happening at the moment and see not only where they and their people have gone, but also where they are headed in the future.  

LEADERS ARE READERS OF THEIR RESOURCES

Leaders who want to succeed maximize every asset and resource they have for the benefit of their organization.  

LEADERS ARE READERS OF PEOPLE

When you walk into a room, if you can’t tell who’s for you and who’s against you, you don’t belong in business leadership.  Intuitive leaders must sense what’s happening among people and almost instantly know their hopes, fears, and concerns.  

LEADERS ARE READERS OF THEMSELVES

Good leaders develop the ability to read themselves - their strengths, skills, weaknesses, and current state of mind.  They recognize the truth “No one can produce great things who is not throughly sincere in dealing with yourself..”

WHAT YOU SEE RESULTS FROM WHO YOU ARE

How you see the world around you is determined by who you are.  Who you are dictates what you see.

3 LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP INTUITION

  1. THOSE WHO NATURALLY SEE IT
  2. THOSE WHO ARE NURTURED TO SEE IT
  3. THOSE WHO WILL NEVER SEE IT

LEADERS SOLVE PROBLEMS USING THE LAW OF INTUITION

Whenever leaders find themselves facing a problem, they automatically measure it - and begin solving it - using the Law of Intuition.  

Improvement is impossible without a change (of some kind) in leadership.  

Leadership is more art than science.  The principles of leadership are constant, but the application changes with every leader and every situation.  That’s why it requires intuition.  Without it you can get blindsided, and that’s one of the worst things that can happen to a leader.  If you want to lead for a long time, you’ve got to obey the Law of Intuition.  

#8 The Law of Intuition - Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

Here is a url to obtain this wonderful read. [https://www.amazon.com/21-Irrefutable-Laws-Leadership-Anniversary/dp/0785288376/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=5b9a6a51-3890-432a-adf5-7abc8a4c9c76](https://www.amazon.com/21-Irrefutable-Laws-Leadership-Anniversary/dp/0785288376/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=5b9a6a51-3890-432a-adf5-7abc8a4c9c76)

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