*Never* Hire Your Friends

If what you focus on expands and what you put behind you shrinks, what should you be focusing on in your leadership? This week, we’re starting a two-part series where John Maxwell answers this question and gives you 4 things that you need to put in front of you!  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson discuss what John has shared and offer you practical advice for how you can apply it to your life and leadership.  Key takeaways:  Spend time with the right people.  You equip people off of strengths; you counsel people off of weaknesses.  People need clarity and direction in their lives.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the What You Focus on Expands (Part 1) Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Expand and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  This episode is sponsored by BELAY:   Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters.    To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, the Delegation Worksheet & Guide. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access. References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Enroll in the Every Day With Purpose online course for $49 (reg. $199)  The Foundation of a Leader Podcast Episode  Think Ahead with Craig Groeschel Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store

No matter what your leadership looks like, the more context you have, the better a leader you are to those around you. In this episode, John Maxwell shares a list of 9 kinds of context that empower you to make your most effective leadership decisions!  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow sit down to have a conversation about what John has shared and give you practical ways to apply it to your life and leadership.  Key takeaways:  Leaders must humbly seek information, even if it feels vulnerable.  Collaboration is so important in learning how to lead and how to make decisions.  Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Value of Contextual Leadership Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Context and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!   References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Enroll in the 21 Laws of Leadership online course for $199 (reg. $1050)  Courage to Continue Podcast Episode  Become a World-Class Leader Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store 

If the greatest gap between successful and unsuccessful people is the thinking gap, how can you close it? In this episode, John Maxwell is sharing the key to shrinking the distance between where you are and where you want to be!  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede sit down to talk about what John has shared and offer you practical application for your own life and leadership.  Key takeaways:  The most effective leaders give themselves permission to think about what’s possible, not just what’s probable.  If I think that there is an answer, I’ll become a victor. If I think that there’s no answer, I’ll become a victim.  When facing a problem, think beyond just resolving the issue at hand. Discover solutions to eliminate the root cause and equip others to handle it in the future.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the How to Close the Thinking Gap Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/ThinkingGap and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!   References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Enroll in the Every Day with Purpose Online Course for $49 (Regular $199)  Courage to Continue Podcast Episode  Mindset Matters Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store 

If you want to love the people you work with and lead them effectively, build a community of friendship in the workplace. In this bonus episode of the Maxwell Leadership Podcast, Mark Cole is joined by special guest Marcylle Combs to discuss her brand-new book, Never Hire Your Friends!  Key takeaways:  Too many people say that humility is a weakness and not a strength. Speak honesty with kindness, especially when it’s going to hurt.  Having fun with your team isn't just a nice idea — it's serious business.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the *Never* Hire Your Friends Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from this teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/HireYourFriends and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”   References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Click here to order your copy of Marcylle’s new leadership connection resource, Never Hire Your Friends!  Enroll in the Every Day with Purpose Online Course for $49 (Regular $199)  Courage to Continue Podcast Episode  Mindset Matters Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store

How can you take something bad and make it better? In today’s episode, John C. Maxwell answers this question and shares a lesson on how you can grow from tough experiences!  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson sit down to discuss what John shared and give you practical ways to apply it to your life and leadership.  Key takeaways:  Be intentional in your personal time to do something that will make you better. People need encouragement and added value more during difficult times than in any other time.  What action will I take to improve my situation?  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Turn Bad into Better: How to Grow From Tough Experiences Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/BadtoBetter and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”   Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References:  Watch thisepisode on YouTube!  Enroll in the 15 Laws of Growth Online Course for $99 (Regular $499)  What All Leaders Have in Common Podcast Episode  How to Lead in Difficult Times Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store 

The greatest way to identify with other people is to say, “I know what you’re going through.” In today’s episode, John C. Maxwell is sharing a lesson on how you can be a relatable leader for the people around you!  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede sit down to have a conversation on what John has shared, as well as offer you practical leadership wisdom and application.  Key takeaways:  Adversity makes you relatable to others.  Success and failure are not opposites.  Wisdom always comes out of crisis.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the How to Be a Relatable Leader Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Relatable and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!   References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Enroll in the 21 Laws of Leadership Online Course for $199 (Regular $1,050)  Get your copy of No Limits by John C. Maxwell (use code PODCAST at checkout for 15% off – valid until 6/3)!  Great Leaders Value People Podcast Episode  Get a Return on Failure Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store   

In life and in leadership, you’ll meet complicated people. How do you work with them? Do you change them? Challenge them? Ignore them? Or is there a better way to approach them? In today’s episode, Mark Cole and Jared Cagle are joined by Ryan Leak for a special look at his new book, How to Work with Complicated People! Key takeaways:  Focus on influencing and serving your people rather than controlling them. On the other side of each and every one of us is complexity.  The best leaders humbly examine themselves first.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the The Art of Leading Complicated People (Including Yourself) with Ryan Leak Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Complicated and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!   References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Click here to get your copy of How to Work with Complicated People. Use promo code COMPLICATED at checkout to receive $10 off your purchase plus a bonus video keynote of Ryan Leak!  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store 

The most effective coaches make powerful halftime adjustments. In this episode, John C. Maxwell explains the power of adaptability and how you can leverage it to adjust your way to victory!  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson have a conversation about what John has shared and offer you practical ways to apply what you’ve learned to your life and leadership.  Key takeaways:  You have to get a result in order to change a result.  There’s a profound difference between conformity and adaptability.   Adaptability is adjusting not out of weakness, but out of strength.   Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Adjust Your Way to Victory Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Victory and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”   This episode is sponsored by BELAY:   Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters.    To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, 10 Strategies to Unleash Your Productivity. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access.  References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Enroll in the High Road Leadership Online Course for $199 (Regular $299)  Courage to Continue Podcast Episode  How to Improve Every Day Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store 

We have a special episode this week on the Maxwell Leadership Podcast! Mark Cole is joined by personal finance expert, best-selling author, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions, Dave Ramsey. In this episode, they discuss Dave’s latest book, Build a Business You Love, and walk through the 5 stages of business growth. Key takeaways:  Time management is one of the ways you level up. The people you put your DNA in define your success.  Don't wait until it's too late to ensure your business can thrive without you.  Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Building the Business You Love with Dave Ramsey Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from Dave and Mark’s discussion. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/BusinessYouLove and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today!  References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Order Dave Ramsey’s new book, Build a Business You Love!  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store 

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a leader that people love to follow? This episode is for you! John C. Maxwell shares a lesson that will help you develop a culture where people feel valued, inspired, and empowered.  After his lesson, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow sit down to discuss what John has shared and help you to apply what you’ve learned to your life and leadership.  Key takeaways:  Respect is always earned on difficult ground.   As leaders, we need a heart to care.    We may forget what a leader says or does, but we will always remember how that leader made us feel.   Our BONUS resource for this episode is the How to Be a Leader People Love to Follow Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John’s teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/LoveToFollow and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”  This episode is sponsored by BELAY:      Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters.     To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, The Leadership Toolkit. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access.   References:  Watch this episode on YouTube!  Enroll in the 15 Laws of Growth Online Course for $99 (Regular $499)  The Foundation of a Leader Podcast Episode  How Leaders Lift Others Podcast Episode  Are you a young leader? Take our Next Generation Leader survey and receive The Mentor’s Guide to Everyday Challenges for FREE!  Learn more about the 5 Levels of Leadership Workshop for your teams!  Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team  Shop the Maxwell Leadership Online Store