John C. Maxwell is the author of over 100 books, including numerous bestsellers in the genre of self-development, leadership and management. He is also a motivational speaker and coach who helps people develop their potential and achieve their goals.
John C. Maxwell began his career as a pastor, then became an instructor at Ohio University, where he studied leadership and management. In 1985 he founded his own company, John Maxwell Company, which since then became one of the leading companies in the field of leadership training and staff development.
One of the key principles John C. Maxwell promotes is the idea that leadership is not about a position, but rather a set of skills and characteristics that can be developed and improved. He argues that anyone can become a leader regardless of their social status, education or profession.
Some of John C. Maxwell’s best known books include:
- “Developing the Leader Within You”;
- “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”;
- “Becoming a Person of Influence”;
- “The Limits of Leadership”;
- “How Successful People Think”;
- “The Leader Who Had No Title”.
John C. Maxwell overview – training and seminars
John C. Maxwell also runs a number of trainings and seminars in which he helps people develop leadership and management skills. Some of his most popular trainings include:
- The 5 Levels of Leadership: This training aims to help managers and leaders improve their leadership skills and develop their subordinates. It is based on five levels of leadership: positional, personal, productive, developmental and superior.
- Developing the Leader Within You: This training helps people to become better leaders, learn how to motivate and inspire others, improve their leadership skills and learn to solve problems.
- Leadership Gold: In this training Maxwell discusses the golden rules of leadership and will share his experiences with many leaders in different fields.
- The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: This training aims to help people learn how to grow and develop as leaders and as individuals. It looks at the 15 laws of growth that help you achieve greater success and effectiveness in life and work.
- Becoming a Person of Influence: In this training Maxwell helps people become more influential, learn how to persuade others, build relationships and establish communication.
- Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: In this training Maxwell teaches how to connect with people, learn how to communicate effectively and convince them of their point of view.
- The Maxwell Method of Speaking: This training aims to help people learn to speak before large audiences, and to speak persuasively and effectively in public.
- The Maxwell Method of Leadership: This training focuses on the key skills of leadership and how to use them to achieve great results.
- How to Be a REAL Success: This training looks at the four main components of success: relationships, energy, authenticity and leadership.
- The Leadership Game: This is a game-based training that helps people learn to better understand leadership and what qualities you need to develop in yourself to lead people.
John C. Maxwell Review – Critique:
Repetition: One of the main criticisms that is often made of John Maxwell’s ideas and concepts is that he repeats the same ideas and principles in every book and training session he writes. Some critics argue that this makes his work too predictable and uninteresting.
Banality: some critics also claim that John Maxwell’s ideas are too general and trivial, and that they can be found in any other self-development book.
Non-universal: many critics also point out that many of John Maxwell’s ideas are not applicable in every situation and for every person. Critics believe that his advice may not work for people with different personality traits, experiences or cultures.
Focus on leadership: Another shortcoming cited by critics of John Maxwell is that he focuses too much on leadership and management. This may not be acceptable to people who do not work in a leadership position or do not want to become leaders.
Commercialism: many critics accuse John Maxwell that his work and training is too commercial and that he cares more about selling his books and products than helping people develop personally.