Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Join me for a more personal look into the weekend sermons, as well as some thoughts on theology, marriage, parenting, and leadership. I will also explore some of your most asked questions throughout the year.
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Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Leading with Respect: Unpacking John Maxwell's Seventh Law
But how can you foster a culture of respect in your own leadership journey? We share practical strategies such as active listening, valuing team input, and demonstrating humility, even in the toughest times. Discover how mentoring, providing growth opportunities, and recognizing contributions can cultivate loyalty and enhance your leadership effectiveness. By reflecting on historical figures like Rosa Parks, we highlight how mutual respect lays the foundation for successful teams and organizations. Stay tuned to grasp why respect, coupled with natural ability and courage, is indispensable for impactful leadership, setting you up for our next conversation on the law of intuition.
Welcome back to Beyond Sunday, where, in this mini-series of the month of July, we are exploring the principles of leadership and personal growth through John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Today, we're diving into the seventh law, the law of respect. This law states that people naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves. Let's unpack what this means and how you and I can apply it to our leadership journey. In my leadership experience, I've observed that respect is a crucial element for effective leadership, just as trust is.
Speaker 1:Early in my career, I noticed that leaders who garnered respect from their team were able to inspire and influence more effectively. I've worked under leaders who commanded respect through their actions and character, and it taught me the importance of earning respect rather than demanding it. One particular instance stands out in my mind. I worked with a leader who had an incredible ability to listen and value each team member's input. He never dismissed anyone's ideas, no matter how trivial they seemed. This leader's respect for others earned him immense loyalty and admiration from the team. It was a powerful lesson in how genuine respect can build a strong, cohesive team. On the other hand, I've worked for a leader that would talk bad about everybody behind their back, belittle people, and they had zero respect from their team underneath them, and it affected the organization greatly.
Speaker 1:John Maxwell defines the law of respect by saying people naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves. This means that people are drawn to leaders who they perceive as having greater skills, talents and strengths. Respect is not just about liking someone. It's about seeing them as capable and worthy of following. Maxwell explains that good leaders rely on respect rather than just talent alone. He states one of the greatest potential pitfalls for natural leaders is relying on talent alone. Good leaders rely on respect. They understand that all leadership is voluntary. When people respect you as a person, they admire you. When they respect you as a friend, they love you. When they respect you as a leader, they follow you. The opposite is also true as soon as people lose respect for you. When they respect you as a leader, they follow you. The opposite is also true as soon as people lose respect for you, your influence over them will disappear. Respect is built through consistent actions that demonstrate your capabilities, integrity and concern for others. It's earned through character and competence, not just through titles or positions.
Speaker 1:Philippians 2, 3-4 says Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others. This verse highlights the importance of humility and respect for others in leadership. Consider the example of King David in the Bible. Despite his flaws, david earned the respect of his people through his courage, loyalty and dedication to serving God and his nation. His leadership was marked by a deep respect for others, which in turn earned him the respect and loyalty of his followers. Another example is the relationship between Paul and Timothy. Paul's mentorship and respect for Timothy's potential as a leader allowed Timothy to grow and succeed in his own ministry. Paul's respect for Timothy was evident in his letters, where he provided guidance, encouragement and validation of Timothy's leadership.
Speaker 1:John Maxwell said when people respect you as a person, they admire you. When they respect you as a friend, they love you and, as I said earlier, when they respect you as a leader, they follow you. This is such a great quote. It encapsulates the essence of this law of respect. Another insightful quote is from Albert Einstein. He said try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value, emphasizing that respect is earned by adding value to others, not just by achieving personal success.
Speaker 1:Steve Jobs once said innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. While innovation is crucial, it is the respect earned through integrity, vision and the ability to inspire that makes people want to follow a leader. Imagine a team leader who consistently shows respect for their team members, listens to their concerns, values their contributions. This leader earns the respect of the team, which leads to increased morale, loyalty and productivity. On the other hand, a leader who disrespects their team, disregards their input and focuses solely on their own success will quickly lose the respect and support of their team. Consider the example of Rosa Parks. Her quiet, courage and steadfast commitment to justice earned her the respect of countless individuals and ignited the civil rights movement. Park's actions demonstrated that true leadership and respect are not about titles, but about standing up for what is right. In his book, maxwell shares a story about a successful business leader who built a company culture based on mutual respect. This leader's respect for others, courage to make difficult decisions and commitment to adding value to the lives of his employees created a loyal and dedicated workforce that propelled the company to success.
Speaker 1:For a minute, think about a sports team. For a minute, think about a sports team. The most respected players are not always the most talented, but those who show dedication, support their teammates and lead by example. They are the ones who lift the team during challenging times and celebrate others' successes. Now let's talk about how you and I can apply the law of respect to our own leadership journey.
Speaker 1:1. Gauge Respect. I can apply the law of respect to our own leadership journey. Number one gauge respect. How do your followers react when you ask them to do something or create change? This will give you a picture of your current leadership ability. Do they readily accept and follow through, or do they show reluctance and skepticism? Number two develop key areas. Study the six ways to earn respect and rate yourself on a scale of one being low to 10, being high, in each area. Write one sentence for each area stating a goal or strategy to help you grow in this area. These are the six areas that John Maxwell talks about.
Speaker 1:Number one natural leadership ability. While natural ability is key, it's a mistake to rely solely on talent. Continuously improve your leadership skills through learning and experience. Number two respect for others. Model respect for others to gain their respect, treat everyone with dignity and consideration, regardless of their position. Number three courage. Do what is right, even if it means risk, failure or criticism. This instills hope in followers and shows them that you are committed to principles over popularity.
Speaker 1:Number four success. People naturally follow those they see as successful. They want to be a part of success. Share your vision and celebrate milestones to build a culture of success. Number five loyalty. Leaders who stand by their people when they are going through tough times, when the going gets tough, as they say, are respected. Show loyalty to your team, especially during difficult times. Number six value added to others. Followers are often drawn to leaders who actively seek ways to add value to them. Invest in your team's growth and well-being. Now back to the list of how you and I can do this. Number three seek feedback. Have the courage to ask those closest to you what they respect most about you and what areas they believe you need to grow in. Set your mind to improving in these areas. This feedback is invaluable for personal development and builds stronger relationships.
Speaker 1:Number four consistently model respect.
Speaker 1:Show respect in all your interactions.
Speaker 1:Let me say that again because that's hard. Sometimes. It's easy to respect people when things are going great. Sometimes, in the tough times, it's hard. So show respect in all your interactions. Listen actively, value other people's opinions and demonstrate humility. Respect is a two-way street and by giving it you are more likely to receive it.
Speaker 1:And finally, number five add value to others. Make a habit of looking for ways to add value to those you lead. This could be through mentoring, providing opportunities for growth or simply recognizing and appreciating their contributions. When people feel valued, they are more likely to respect and follow you. Remember, people naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves. By focusing on earning respect through your actions and character, you can enhance your leadership effectiveness and inspire those around you. Today, we explored the law of respect and how earning respect through natural leadership ability, respect for others, courage, success, loyalty and adding value to others is crucial for effective leadership. Understanding and applying this law can transform the way you lead and impact those around you. Join us next time as we dive into the eighth law, the law of intuition. You won't wanna miss it. Thank you for listening to today's podcast. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, leave a review, share it with a friend. No-transcript.