Bryce Henson

In his chapter on the Law of the Inner Circle, Maxwell expresses no one leader can excel at all the 21 laws.

Nor does 1 person have enough bandwidth to execute the entire vision of an organization. 

Especially if that vision makes a true impact.

This is why every leader needs a team.

And as a core part of the team. Successful leaders need a strong inner circle of people who collectively make that leader better than they would be on their own.

As Maxwell puts it, “those closest to you determine your level of success.” 

The tough part is many people are not intentional about this circle.

They drift along latching on or hanging on to other that provide comfort and reassurance overgrowth.

This is a recipe for mediocrity. 

If you are reading this, I know you have no desire to me mediocre.

So, my message for you today is to first become aware of the law of the inner circle. 

Realize you need to attract strong people in your life and as a part of our team.

The best way to do this is invest in your personal growth.

As you grow, you will organically attract the people you need to align with in your circle. 

When you do, you win, your team wins, and your clients win.

Onward.

On the Law of Connection, John Maxwell writes…

“When it comes to working with people, the heart comes before the head.” 

Logic is important.

But alone it will only take you so far. 

In order to really get people on board with your mission & leadership, you need to connect with their HEARTS through their emotions.

Yes, people are EMOTIONAL beings. People need to feel LOVED and VALUED around their emotions. 

How?

There are many ways to do this, but here are a few:

• • Be open and vulnerable. When you share your inner feelings & struggles, it creates a deep connection.
  • Be curious. Ask questions about THEM!
  • Use the phrase: “Enough about me, how about you? How are you, what’s new? Tell me about that trip, etc!”
  • Then LISTEN intently!
  • Be PRESENT. This makes people feel valued.
  • Engage. Create and hold eye contact. 
  • Share gratitude and love. When sincere, tell someone you love them early and often.

When you create connections around emotion, people put their guard down, you gain friendship and INFLUENCE which is the foundation of leadership.

In his chapter on the Law of Magnetism, John Maxwell makes an essential but not always obvious point: Your teammates likely have a lot in common with you. 

Why?

People tend to gravitate toward others who are similar. You might notice this in your friend groups, and it’s true of your team as well!

As Maxwell says, “The better leader you are, the better leaders you will attract.” 

If you’re unhappy with the people you attract, you must focus on your own personal and leadership development.

This is a notion I constantly remind myself of which is why I wanted to share with you.

Today’s message:

Remember that leadership is an inside game. Focus on your continued development and growth. Stay fit and active. Get involved with a positive/ supportive community and be a student of learning.

You will then attract the right people into your team and life using the law of magnetism. 

After a few weeks off for some variety, we are going to return to John Maxwell’s next 7 laws of leadership in the following weeks.

Specific to number 8, the Law of Inutrition..

Maxwell acknowledges that it’s more challenging than other laws to explain because it’s more fluid and less concrete. 

He describes, “The Law of Intuition is based on facts plus instinct plus other intangible factors, such as employee morale, organizational momentum, and relational dynamics.”

Because of this, intuition is much harder to teach although not impossible.

I also personally believe some people have better leadership instincts than others which is the “Nature” part of this equation.

Think Nature vs. Nurture. 

However, everyone can improve their leadership skills and become a strong leader via the nurture component for those who possess a student mindset.

This is why I strongly believe to be a student of leadership, you have to be a student of human nature.

With focus and intentionality, you can learn how people behave. 

And more specifically, learn from situations of high pressure or stress as this is when human nature is truly revealed. 

Today’s message:

Pay attention to how people behave.

Be observant on what things make them angry or happy. What things attract, repel or make people very emotional? 

Study people constantly with curiosity.

More specifically, learn from situations of high pressure or stress as this is when human nature is more deeply revealed. 

When you do, you will increase your intuition and become a better leader.

I trust the headline got your attention. 

While it’s absolutely sincere, I don’t mean it in the way you most likely initially thought.

The truth is Adolf Hitler was an evil-evil man.

Let me repeat, and evil-evil man.

But also an INCREDIBLE leader.

You see, while leadership usually gets a positive connotation.

When you break it down to the core..

Leadership is just a tool. 

By itself, it’s neutral.

Here are a couple of other examples of what I mean..

Some people say money is good, others say its bad.

In reality, money is a tool, it is neutral. 

It can be used to create beautiful things or destroy them.

Same with energy.

it’s a tool and also neutral.

It can power civilizations or destroy them (Atomic Bomb).

Why is this my leadership topic for today?

Because 2 weeks ago, I visited hell on Earth from the years of 1941-1945 via the concentration camp of Auschwitz in Poland.

This was Adolf Hitzler’s most famous death camp in World War 2 that killed over 1 million Jewish people alone. 

Truthfully, I didn’t want to go.

Which was the exact reason why I had to go.

If you ever thought if things were not going your way..

As a friend and very lovingly, I politely urge you to gain some perspective. 

This was the coaching I gave to myself.

As I needed a dose of this medicine.

So I am not preaching at you, rather with you.

And by experiencing just the memory made me realize I need to step up my gratitude, perspective & leadership game.

My message today?

Leadership is perspective. 

Perspective is leadership.

It’s also a very powerful tool that you have a duty, obligation, and responsibility to develop and use for good.

Please never forget this.

And as humans, I strongly believe we all have a duty, obligation, and responsibility to see what happened with our own eyes in Auschwitz at some point in your life to gain more perspective.

And if you have already much love, respect, and would love your feedback.

PS “Those who don’t study/remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” – George Santayana