The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

John C. Maxwell’s revised and updated 10th Anniversary Edition of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is an incredibly valuable resource for church leaders. The further into this ministry I journey, the more I reach back for Maxwell’s book and others like it.

Today, I’m reflecting upon Maxwell’s suggestion that “Leaders are Learners” (The Law of Process). The best leaders are life-long learners. These people are curious sorts. Their bookmarks are constantly moving and finding their way into new books. They listen to podcasts online and attend informative seminars. They aren’t afraid to meet veteran leaders for coffee and enlightening conversation. They refer to the notes, tapes, and books of other leaders in their field when an unfamiliar task presents itself and demands a superior effort. Yes, the best leaders are life-long learners.

Shockingly, ministry - in particular building a church from nothing - requires a lot more than theology or spiritual counseling or good exegesis. Church planting requires things that seminary and/or undergraduate theology programs do not provide. It requires people skills, planning and strategic thinking, vision, action steps, results assessments, and the ability to fluidly shift and change when things don’t go as planned. All of these things are just as important as theology, spiritual counseling, and good exegesis. In fact, one can not function without the other. These particular leadership skills are not, however, learned by simply doing theology, spiritual counseling, or good exegesis. They are aspects of ministry that are introduced as a pastor takes real steps in real time. And the truth of the matter is that unless a pastor or church leader is prepared to do some learning, research, reading, and listening, he or she will not be successful. Like it or not, ministry requires a holistic approach that includes everything we learned in seminary, and the things we learn while actually in the field.

Leaders must be learners, or they will never realize their full potential, and will most likely burn out or drop out. Me? I’m not prepared to do either, so I am dedicating as much time as it takes to stand on the shoulders of those exceptional leaders that have gone before me. I’m revisiting Maxwell, and others like him, to glean as much practical and applicable wisdom that I can. The Ministry God has called me to deserves it.

Leaders are learners. Learning requires a lifetime. Dedicate yourselves to it. The attempt to disguise poor leadership skills in pious sounding spiritual prose results in nothing but a poorly fitted fool’s costume. So, do the hard work and put in the time to learn from the exceptional leaders who have gone before you. This ministry deserves as much from all of us!