The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow [Hardcover]

John C. Maxwell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0785274405 | ISBN-13: 978-0785274407 | Publication Date: June 1, 1999 | Edition: 1

In the tradition of his CBA bestseller The 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership and his sell-out seminars, author John C. Maxwell now provides a concise, accessible leadership book that helps readers become more effective leaders from the inside out. Daily readings highlight twenty-one essential leadership qualities and include "Reflecting On It" and "Bringing It Home" sections which help readers integrate and apply each day's material.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Why do some people consistently inspire others to follow their lead? According to John C. Maxwell, author of 24 books and a regular speaker on the topic, it's the "character qualities" they possess. In The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Maxwell identifies these top traits as character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, positive attitude, problem-solving, relationships, responsibility, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability, and vision--and then defines them in ways that readers can absorb and utilize. Each is covered in a separate chapter opening with a high-concept definition and continuing with relevant anecdotes, details on its meaning, suggestions for further reflection, and exercises for improvement. For example, in the section on vision ("You can seize only what you can see"), Maxwell describes how Walt Disney initially developed the theme-park concept after accompanying his daughters to a fun-filled but rather shabby amusement park. He then analyzes how Disney's resultant projects drew on his personal history while meeting other's needs, and explains how readers must "listen to several voices" to develop successful foresight in a similar way. Finally, Maxwell suggests methods to articulate these visions and measure their implementation. --Howard Rothman

About the Author

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 13 million books. His organizations have trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and INJOY Stewardship Services.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 1 edition (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785274405
• ISBN-13: 978-0785274407
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MAXWELL HAS A WINNING COMBINATION!, June 1, 2001

By 

Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow (Hardcover)

Of all the books available on leadership, I have found this to be one of the best, and leadership is part of what I teach through my business management courses. This is by no means one of the lengthiest books or most in-depth books, but it says more in 157 pages than others say in 400 pages. The easy-flowing writing style creates an enjoyable reading experience which does not take an extensive amount of thought or time to comprehend. The end result is an accomplished, basic book served in a professional style.

The author uses these twenty-one qualities for the basis of successful leadership: character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, attitude, problem-solving, relationship, responsibility, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability and vision. What a sensational, winning combination! Each of these twenty-one components is discussed separately. While all of these elements are critical for strong leadership, if I had to narrow the scope down to five areas of particular benefit, it would be the ones on character, competence, listening, generosity and self-discipline. I particularly liked Maxwell's straight-forward approach and positive attitude exhibited throughout the book. One other book that rated at the top of my list, and one I would also highly recommend, is a favourite, all-time classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

114 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Same Old Stuff, September 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow (Hardcover)

John seems to have one outline that he simply fills in different illustrations. He can only ride this horse so long. It is time for him to update his material. This book does not accomplish that. Sorry, I like him on the platform, but his writings are getting stale.

108 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too little substance, December 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow (Hardcover)

While the author seems well-intentioned, the book is very superficial. It seems to be recycled bromides and platitudes, connected by anecdotes and quotes, and punctuated by occasional exaggeration (like "everything rises and falls on leadership" - everything?). There are hundreds of leadership books with more meat.