The Law of the Lid (from John C. Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership) states that “leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness.”
In many organizations, leadership positions are offered to team members not based on their leadership ability, but instead based on their technical ability.
For example, the best accountant on a team might become the team leader. Now that makes sense until you think about the fact that leadership is a completely different skill set than accounting. What really happens then, is that the team lost a good technician and gained a bad manager, and it’s likely everyone is unhappy. The lack of leadership ability is a serious limit to the productivity and success of that team.
Recently, I heard someone speak about these success minimums:
It was a little more than three years ago when I learned about the Law of the Lid and adopted the fourth success principle–investing in personal growth.
Since then, I have completed a leadership certification program with The John Maxwell Team. Being part of this program, and taking the included classes to earn my certification, has hugely improved my leadership ability. In fact, since becoming certified in this area, I have begun teaching and coaching others to help them improve their leadership ability as well.
I continue to see more and more ways that I might be able to make a difference in the lives of others because of what I invested and continue to invest. As I am stretched outside my comfort zone, my lid continues to be raised.
So, how are you going to invest in yourself?
Investing ALWAYS comes before return. Planting ALWAYS comes before harvest.
What is your next step? Many times the next step is the most difficult. If it’s finding a mentor, investing in Leadership Training, getting into a networking group, or hiring a life or business coach…do it now! Don’t wait another day, week or month!
Let me encourage, and yes, push you. Take that next step!
Regardless of your leadership ability now, imagine if you were able to grow it by just 1% per week? You would be 50% better in just a year’s time! The charts shown here from John C. Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, demonstrate the compounding power of an increase in our success when we work to improve our leadership ability.
Because I care about planting seeds of positive change (lifting lids!), I offer a complimentary 30-minute coaching session for individuals, and a complimentary 45-minute leadership training for groups/teams. There is also a free gift available on my website.
Take a look at my website to learn more about how I can serve you. Here’s to lifting lids!
Amy Malay is a transformational coach, speaker, and trainer, certified by The John Maxwell Team. Her mission is to be a change-leader – an agent of positive change in the lives of others. She helps individuals and teams to be intentional about the journey of identifying and changing areas where there is room for improvement.