The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

One of the guiding principles I use during this process is the Pareto Principle. I’ve often taught it to people at leadership conferences over the years, and I also explain it in depth in my book Developing the Leader Within You.

To be a leader, a person has to not only be out front, but also have people intentionally coming behind him,

Predetermine a course of action. Lay out your goals. Adjust your priorities. Notify key personnel. Allow time for acceptance. Head into action. Expect problems. Always point to the successes. Daily review your plan.

How important is trust for a leader? It is the most important thing. Trust is the foundation of leadership. It is the glue that holds an organization together. Leaders cannot repeatedly break trust with people and continue to influence them. It just doesn’t happen.

Information is vital to a leader. You need a grasp of the facts, an understanding of dynamic factors and timing, and a vision for the future.

What must I do that nobody can or should do for me?

The true measure of leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less.

1. NATURAL LEADERSHIP ABILITY

leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. The lower an individual’s ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential. The higher the individual’s ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential.