The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership

10 Commandments of Effective Leadership by T.D. Jakes from SajiGroup International

Happy New Year — How to Live by Design and Make the New Year Your Best Year Ever

The first of January is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. It's a time we wish family and friends a Happy New Year, with balloons, confetti, fireworks, food, music, dance, and parties.

Like billions of people around the world, you too will likely make some New Year resolutions and promise yourself to start doing some good things and start doing some bad things.

If, like me, you are a Christian, you will probably be at a watch-night service on New Year's eve to make declarations and pray over your New Year resolutions. Unfortunately, many stop at declaration bus stop, and never make it to their goal because they have no strategic plan and are unwilling to do what is necessary to make the New Year a Happy New Year indeed.

If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan." — Jim Rohn

The New Year will not be a Happy New Year if you celebrate it with an old you. I will be discussing various strategies you can develop to make your New Year a Happy New Year and your best year ever, so you want subscribe to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any of these strategies. Here is #1: continue reading

How to empower people and extend your influence as a leader

Empowerment is giving your influence to others for the purpose of personal and organizational growth. Successful leaders delegate power and share their influence, position, and power with others.

If you are burnt out, stressed, and tired, you are probably not delegating authority and empowering those around you to take charge; you are insecure and afraid of someone taking your job.

Besides helping you as a leader to work with and through people, empowering and investing in people can help them reach their potential.

No matter how much work you can do, no matter how engaging your personality may be, you will not advance far in business if you cannot work through others — John Craig

When you decide to empower people, Leadership guru John C. Maxwell said “your goal in the beginning should be to hand over relatively small, simple tasks to the people you wish to empower and progressively increase the responsibility and authority.

Here are 7 foolproof ways to empower people: continue reading...

Excerpt from John C. Maxwell's Book: Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs To Know.

There is no night shift in life

How many hours make one day? 24 hours? 12 hours?

If you answer 24 to the above question, you might be wrong—very wrong! There is no night shift in life because 24 hours do not make 1 day. So, stop procrastinating on life's most important tasks, you don't have that much time.

The belief that 24 hours make one day has robbed billions of people of their destiny—they waste precious time during the day, procrastinating on important tasks, doing useless work, and dedicating too much time to their work life while investing nothing in their life work.

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The U.S. Government Shutdown — Why the Government Shutdown is Good For You

For the first time since 1995, the U.S Government officially shutdown today due to the inability of Congress to approve a spending bill. The government shutdown will force about 800,000 government workers to take unpaid time off. While government shutdown might not be the best for your work life—if you are affected, it might be the best time to reflect on your life work.

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why — Mark Twain

If you are affected by the government shutdown, take this time to reflect on who you are, why you are born, and what you are here to contribute. Here are five ways you can make the government shutdown work for you:

Take advantage of the government shutdown to re-ignite your passion

If you are not very passionate about your job, the government shutdown might be your opportunity to really take some time to think about what you love, what you have keen interest in, and activities you know you can pursue with passionate obsession.

If your job does not get you excited, it might be an indication that you should be somewhere else doing something different. Are you enthusiastic on your job? Are you happy when you are carrying out the tasks and the activities on your job? If you are not very happy with your job, if you are making money but not making progress, and if you are not fulfilled even after giving more than 8 hours to your job, it’s time to look within you to really discover what you are passionate about... continue reading

The John Maxwell Leadership Assessment Tool

What is The John Maxwell Leadership Assessment Tool?

The John Maxwell Leadership Assessment Tool is an online based tool that offers a 360 degree view of your influence as a leader.

Critical in the development of any leader is receiving 360° feedback — David Hoyt

Max Dupree said "the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality." The John Maxwell Leadership assessment tool will help you to... continue reading

The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership #9—Don’t Lead Without Listening

The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership #9—Don’t Lead Without Listening
Don't lead without listening. This is the ninth of the ten commandments of effective leadership. You cannot lead without listening and you cannot listen when you are too busy. You can be so busy doing what you are called to do that you can’t hear who called you.

You Will Lead Without Listening If You Are Too Busy

If want to respect this commandment of effective leadership, you cannot take every engagement, and you cannot respond to everybody who wants you.

Talking makes you feel important. Listening to others makes them feel important — Dan Rockwell

Just because you are busy does not mean you are effective. Your busyness can be the enemy of your greatness. If you've been busy for the last three years and you don’t see any progress, you busyness is your enemy. Maybe you can go farther if you do less.

Leaders, listen to your leaders

Don’t put people in position if you don’t... continue reading

The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership #5—Don't Overpromise and Underdeliver

I've been discussing the 10 commandments of effective leadership — based on T.D. Jakes' opening message at the Pastors and Leadership conference held earlier this year in Dallas, Texas.

The fifth of the 10 commandments of effective leadership says  "Thou shalt not overpromise and underdeliver."

Don't Overpromise and Underdeliver

Disappointment will kill relationships in your life if you bait and switch. Continue reading...

The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership #4—Don’t Avoid Confrontation

The fourth of the 10 commandments of effective leadership says “Thou shalt not avoid confrontation.”

One of the challenges of leadership is that the qualities that makes you a very good leader—nice, kind, generous heart—can also make you ineffective.

Do not avoid confrontation

As a leader, people generally expect you to be nice, but you destroy your potential to lead effectively if you care so much about preserving your image of niceness. What makes you likable to the people can destroy your organization if, continue reading...

The Extras of Professional Coaching

The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership

Look out from where you are

“No Church Left Behind.” That was the theme of the 2013 Pastors and Leaders Conference hosted by Bishop T.D. Jakes, the senior pastor of The Potters House located in Dallas, Texas.

Bishop Jakes opened the conference with his message on Ten Commandments of Effective Leadership. I will share each of the ten commandments with you over the next few weeks and I hope you will find something in the writing to equip, encourage, and empower you for God’s next move.

To lead effectively, you need to obey the Ten Commandments of Effective Leadership. You may be talented, educated, or highly skilled and not be a good leader. The fact that you can teach, preach or manage does not make you a leader. There are great leaders who doesn't teach very well and great teachers who doesn't lead very well.  To be an effective leader, here are the Ten Commandments you must live by:

Leadership Commandment #1 - Thou shalt not lead beyond your own exposure

As a leader, it is possible that you are intrinsically focused on what you are leading and not be exposed to anything beyond what you are leading. Your faithfulness and commitment to your vision could be the point of your frustration. Are you so busy working in the house that you never see beyond the house you are in?

The first thing God says to Abraham is, “look out from where you are.” You cannot lead further than your own exposure. How are you going to go to something you are not exposed to?

"You need to be exposed beyond the people that you lead or you forfeit your right to lead them."

The children of Israel were commanded to send spies to the Promised Land because the exposure to what is on the other side might give them the strength to march around the wall. Your level of exposure will determine your level of confidence.

Lead to the next level

Moses was very effective at leading the Israelites though the desert because he had been in the desert for forty years himself. He led the Israelites as far as his exposure. Moses knew how to survive in the desert because he had been there but he couldn't lead the Israelites to the Promised Land because he had not been there. So God needed somebody [Joshua] who had been exposed to the next level [The Promised Land] to lead to the next level.

"You cannot get people to go where you have not been yourself."

You cannot bring people into a theory. There are so many theoretical leaders today who are busy leading and teaching things they have not experienced, trying to build business on something they have not experienced. They understand it philosophically, they have a degree on it but they have never done it.

Theoretical vs. Empirical Information

There is a difference between theoretical information and empirical information. You don’t have to prove theoretical information but empirical information has to be proven. David chose not to fight the giant in his life with Saul’s [his boss] ammunition because he [David] was yet to prove them. David has not been exposed to it and he does not have the experience on how to use it.

It is better to take the less that you are exposed to and use it against the giant in your life than to take something that is not proven in your life and fight your giant with it. You are strongest on the level of your exposure.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership #2 - The Law of Influence

"It’s not the position that makes the leader; it’s the leader that makes the position" — Stanley Hufty

The true measure of leadership is influence.

In the previous newsletter on The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, I discussed Leadership Law #1 – The Law of the Lid. In this issue, I will discuss Leadership Law #2 – The Law of the Influence.

If you are a leader or you aspire to develop your leadership skills, I will encourage you to buy and study (not only read) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership book by my mentor and friend John C. Maxwell.

The leadership laws Dr. Maxwell discussed in the book is universal and it works either you are leading yourself, a family, a church, an organization, a company, a local government, or a nation.

Law #2: The Law of Influence

Although she was frail and not very impressive upon first appearance, Mother Teresa is very influential. She was probably the most respected person on the planet in her time because when she spoke, people listened.

Dr. Maxwell debunked the myths about leaders and leadership:

1. Management Myth – leading and managing are not the same thing. A manager focuses on maintaining systems and processes while a leader influence people to follow.


2. Entrepreneur Myth – Though very skilled at spotting opportunities and going after them, not all entrepreneurs are good with people.


3. Knowledge Myth – “Knowledge is power” but intelligent and knowledgeable people are not necessarily leaders.


4. Pioneer Myth – The fact that you are the first does not make you a leader. A leader is not only out front, but also has people intentionally coming behind him


5. Position Myth – “it’s not the position that makes the leader; it’s the leader that makes the position.” ~ Stanley Huffty

“True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, assigned, or mandated. It comes only from influence.” —  John C. Maxwell 

One of the best ways to test your influence as a leader is to lead a voluntary team because followers in voluntary organizations cannot be forced to get on board.

To find the best leaders in your organization, ask the candidates to leader a volunteer organization and see how they lead without leverage or position or incentive.

Action Points to Increase your Influence as a Leader

1. Who you are. Build a reputable character. True leadership begins with your inner person.


2. Who you know. Learn how to build the right kind of relationships with the right people. You can’t hate people and lead them at the same time.


3. What you know. You have to like information, be able to grasp facts, understand timing and trends. Take the time to gain knowledge, you are the leader.


4. What you feel. You can rely only on data, facts, trend, and information. Sometimes, you've got to be able to smell a situation and follow your gut feelings.


5. Where you've been. Don’t waste your experience. Although past performance does not always guarantees future results, It encourages people to give you a chance.


6. What you've done. Nothing speaks to followers like a good track record. Every time you extend yourself, take a risk, try something new, and succeeded, you give your followers another reason to trust you.


7. What you can do. Know what you are capable of. Know your strengths. Your followers want to know if you can deliver and if you can lead them to victory.

If you find this Newsletter helpful, why not forward it to a friend!

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Saji Ijiyemi is a Leadership Trainer, Success Coach, and Motivational Teacher with The John Maxwell Group. He is the visionary behind SajiGroup International, an organization dedicated to equipping today's leaders for tomorrow's challenges. He is the author of "Don't Die Sitting," an inspirational best-selling book that challenges people to live while they are alive. Continue reading...

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership #1 - The Law of the Lid

I’m currently training the Leaders at Jesus House Elkridge on The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, a book by my mentor and friend, John C. Maxwell. If you are a leader or you aspire to develop your leadership skills, I will encourage you to buy and study (not only read) this book. 

The leadership laws Dr. Maxwell discussed in the book is universal and it works either you are leading yourself, a family, a church, an organization, a company, a local government, or a nation. 

We live in a complex, fast-paced, dynamic world and everything, including leadership, is changing at a very fast rate.
If you are a leader, you want to make sure you are constantly growing and also exposing your team to new leadership ideas, else you and your organization will soon found yourself in oblivion.

I will briefly discuss each of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership in the next 21 weeks and give some action tips on the immediate step you can take to increase your effectiveness as a leader.

Leadership Law #1: The Law of the Lid

The Law of the Lid of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership states that your leadership ability is the lid that determines your level of effectiveness. 

John Maxwell used the story of Dick and Maurice McDonald to illustrate the Law. With more than 34,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 119 countries, few people knew who Dick and Maurice was but a lot more knew a man named Ray Kroc, who bought the rights to franchise McDonald’s restaurants and turned McDonald’s into an American institution and a global entity.

Though Dick and Maurice were very successful as restaurateurs, they failed as franchisers because they lacked the leadership necessary to make a larger enterprise effective. Ray Kroc on the other hand is a leader who had a vision for McDonald’s potential as soon as he visited the restaurant back in 1954.

“The higher you want to climb, the more you need leadership. The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be.”

Action Points

1. Become a student of leadership to increase your leadership lid (i.e. your level of leadership).
2. Ask your spouse, boss, colleagues, friends to rate (on the scale of 1 to 10) your ability to connect with people, plan and think strategically, cast a vision, get results.
3. When faced with a challenge, think first on who you can enlist to help.
4. When your team, department, or organization fails to achieve an objective, assume that it’s a leadership issue.
5. Think in terms of significance more than success

Make Today Count: A John Maxwell Book Review

Make Today Count

The first book I picked up this year was “Make Today Count,”  written by my mentor and friend, John C. Maxwell.  This phenomenal book has forever changed the way I treat the gift called today. In Make Today Count, John Maxwell taught that you can build a better life if you learn to:

• making good decisions, and
• discipline yourself to manage the decision daily

To help you make today count, John dedicated the 12 chapters of the book to the “Daily Dozen,” 12 critical areas that can make your life a masterpiece if you can make good decisions in each of these areas and discipline yourself daily to manage your decisions. Here are the Daily Dozens for success, John Maxwell’s decision in each area, and how he managed the discipline of each decision:

1. Attitude

To make today count, you have to make an attitude decision to keep a positive attitude and use it to influence others. If you want today to be a good day, you need to take charge of the way you look at it. To benefit from your decision to keep a positive attitude, you need to determine that every day, you will make the adjustments necessary to keep my attitude right.

2. Priorities

Another thing you need to do to make today count is to prioritize your life and give focus and energy to those things that gives the highest return. To benefit from your decision to prioritize your life, you need to determine that every day, you will live your life according to your priorities

3. Health

If you are serious about making today count, you will have to take good care of yourself by exercising and eating right. This is one area I personally need to work on. It's a wise saying that health is wealth, if you are weak or sick in your body, it will greatly affect your productivity. To benefit from the decision to take good care of yourself, you need to determine that every day, you will eat low-fat foods and exercise for at least thirty-five minutes.

4. Family

You can also make today count if those closest to you respect you the most. While you cannot demand respect from family members, you can earn it by determining that every day, you will will work hard on gaining the respect of those closest to you. John Maxwell admonish that "building a solid family doesn't just happen on its own, you have to work at it. It's okay to aspire to be successful but it should not be at the cost of your family. "Anyone who neglects or abandons his family for fame, status, or financial gain isn't really successful."

5. Thinking

All that you will will achieve or fail to achieve is the direct result of your thoughts. So, to make today count, you have to decide that you will think on things that will add value to you and to others. Dr. Maxwell encourages that you find a thinking place to capture your thoughts and write down your ideas. Ideas have a short half-life, "the more time that passes after the idea strikes, the less heat it gives off. To benefit from your decision to think on things that will add value to you and to others, you need to determine that every day, you will set aside a time to think and think on the right things.

6. Commitment

Another decision to make your today count is to decide that if something is worth doing, you will commit yourself to carrying it through. "Everything in life exacts a price, you have to decide whether the price is worth the prize." Your commitment becomes stronger when you have already count the cost and determine to pay the price. To benefit from the decision to commit yourself to carry through, you must determine that every day I will renew my commitment and think about the benefits that come from it. You already know how to count your days, right now is the time to make your days count. In John Maxwell’s words, “when you take care of today, tomorrow will take care of itself.”