Raise the Lid on Your Leadership Potential

Are you a successful leader looking for more ways to increase your leadership skills? Do you want to be, do and have more in order to add value to others through your leadership? If so, this article is written just for you!

Today, I would like to introduce you to "The Law of the Lid" which is Law #1 from one of John Maxwell's most amazing books titled "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership." Applying the principles from "The Law of the Lid" will help YOU move closer to achieving YOUR goals in 2012 and 2013. Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership. "The Law of the Lid" determines your effectiveness and your potential.

It's important to remember, leadership is developed daily, not in a day! So, let me ask you these few questions. How effective is your leadership today? Are you continuing to grow your leadership skills? Are you taking others with you? Do you walk ahead or beside your team?

Think about a time in your life when you were stuck and someone or something challenged you to look at your situation differently.

The biggest lid in my life was many years ago when I had a fear of public speaking. What challenged me to overcome this fear was when my son got Bone Cancer when he was only 7 years old. After one year of helping my son fight cancer, I had a story to tell … a story to help others overcome fears and stay positive during life's most difficult challenges. This experience not only eliminated my fear of public speaking, it launched my career as a trainer, teacher and coach. How? I experienced something so much greater than my fear of public speaking. I went from being shy to being an advocate. And, I was fearless. I knew nothing I could ever go through would be as difficult.

So, my question to you is this … WHAT'S YOUR LID? What's holding you back in your leadership, dreams and goals? Is it fear? Is it doubt? If so, do you really want to deprive your team(s) and the people in your life from your gifts and talents?

And, how do you increase your leadership effectiveness? Whether you're leading a large organization, team, business or life, we could spend months on this law. However, here are a few great tips just to begin:

1. Reflect and plan everyday. This will give you insight.

2. Invest in training, as a lifestyle.

3. Think about whose has been the lid lifter in your life? And, what are their characteristics?

4. For some of you, it will be to make a STOP DOING list.

5. If you want to be a better golfer, golf with better golfers. If you want to be a deeper thinker, meet with deeper thinkers.

In closing, I’d like to encourage you to take the next step to increase your leadership effectiveness by lifting the lid on your leadership potential. Become a leader of positive influence by raising leaders to multiple their leadership for generations to come. Create leaders to build a legacy with vision, passion and purpose.