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The Maxwell Leadership Bible

There are moments in our lives that we can pinpoint as life changing moments. My encounter with the Maxwell Leadership Bible is one such moment for me.

Book Title: The Maxwell Leadership Bible

Subtitle: Lessons in Leadership from the Word of God

Author: Dr. John C. Maxwell

Year of Publication: 2002, 2007

Publisher: Maxwell Motivation, Inc

Book Summary

Since April 2008, this great book – The Maxwell Leadership Bible – has been my go-to book on the subject of leadership. My copy is completely loved out! I can liken it to a super chocolate store with every variety of chocolate in the world for a chocolate lover, or a sports fan thrown into a room filled with all his or her favourite stars.

This is not a ‘book’ in the normal sense; it is a bible; and the bible, as far as I am concerned, is the greatest book ever written. Everything pertaining to life and the hereafter is in the bible. The Maxwell Leadership Bible is a study bible focused on leadership and leadership principles. Consequently, it covers the subject of leadership on nearly every topic in the bible, and provides a leadership profile on the many leaders the bible talks about.

In Brief

Honestly, I doubt if a real summary is possible; but in brief, this is THE leadership BIBLE.

First, there is a general introduction, then; there is an introduction to each of the books in the bible – this is the general format.
John C. Maxwell makes two vital points at the very beginning of the introductions:

  1. Good leadership is the best means for leaving a lasting legacy (general introduction to the Maxwell Leadership Bible)
  2. God is the ultimate Leader (Introduction to the book of Genesis)

The many leadership principles John Maxwell has been teaching for the past four decades or so, are captured, and thoroughly explained in this bible, using the stories, personalities, and parables as real examples.

“Good leadership is the best means for leaving a lasting legacy.”

Why I Like This Book

As a trainer, and someone who has been teaching self-leadership for a number of years, I believe, like john Maxwell, that “all rises and falls on leadership.” This book put the zing in my leadership, and inspired me to pay attention to the simple and little things (what the bible calls the ‘little foxes’).

Real examples (negative and positive), and applications of leadership principles in everyday life is covered in this book. There is something for everyone. The bible is for everyone; John Maxwell has simply distilled the leadership principles and encapsulated them for easy consumption.

If you are a business leader, a manager, or someone who leads or manages people, if you aspire to be great or leave a great legacy, there is much this bible can show you. The Maxwell Leadership Bible showcases various skills, including conflict resolution, communication skills, interpersonal relations, the art of negotiation, and other fundamental leadership, management, and interpersonal skills and attitudes. 

My Favourite Segments

  • 360 degree leadership
  • Winning with People
  • Leadership Issues
  • Profile in Leadership
  • 21 Laws of Leadership
  • 21 Indispensable
  • Qualities of Leadership
  • Ethics 101
  • Eleven thinking skills every successful person needs
  • The Difference Maker
  • Talent is never enough (plus a list of 13 attributes/things that make talent work)
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