The purpose of leadership, or why I do what I do
ByNext week I’ll return home from my trip to Asia. After 17 days of traveling, speaking, touring and meeting with leaders on the other side of the world, I’m often asked why I devote my life to writing and teaching about leadership. At 62 years of age, I sometimes wonder myself.
Alright, not really. In over thirty years of leadership, one lesson I learned very early on was that taking people to the top is more fulfilling to me personally than arriving alone. I wrote about this in my recent book of all-new material, Leadership Gold: Lessons I’ve Learned from a Lifetime of Leading.
Here’s an excerpt to illustrate:
A few years ago I had the privilege of speaking on the same stage as Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Mount Everest. During lunch I asked him what had given him the most fulfillment as a mountain climber. His answer surprised me.
“I have helped more people get to the top of Mount Everest than any other person,” he replied. “Taking people to the top who could never get there without my assistance is my greatest accomplishment.”
Evidently this is a common way of thinking for great mountain guides. Years ago I saw an interview with a guide on 60 Minutes. People had died while attempting to climb Mount Everest, and a surviving guide was asked, “Would the guides have died if they were not taking others with them to the top?”
“No,” he answered, “but the purpose of the guide is to take people to the top.”
Then the interviewer asked, “Why do mountain climbers risk their lives to climb mountains?”
The guide responded, “It is obvious that you have never been to the top of the mountain.”
I remember thinking to myself that mountain guides and leaders have a lot in common. There is a big difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says, “Go.” A leader says, “Let’s go.” The purpose of leadership is to take others to the top. And when you take others who might not make it otherwise to the top, there’s no other feeling like it in the world. To those who have never had the experience, you can’t explain it. To those who have, you don’t need to.
From Leadership Gold, Thomas Nelson (2008)
John,
Thank you, this is great insight. Your words about what a leader says, “Let’s go”, really has an impact on me because I have always hesitated to do/say that. I have for 20 years said to myself that “after” I become a leader, I hope that people follow. I understand it is the other way around. Thanks for your leadership, and safe travels home.
Steve Payne (WWDB)
How amazing, John! I woke this morning thinking about mountain climbers and the correlation to leadership. Thank you for putting words to the pictures in my head.
As always, your leadership and insights bless me.
Have a safe trip home, my friend…be blessed!!
Cathie
Perrysburg, Ohio
Thanks John, for continuing to take leaders to the top. Many would never make it without your selfless investment. Like others, I take what I learn from you and teach it to others. Later this month I am going back to Africa to teach Pastoral Leadership. Safe travels. Thanks for all you do for the King and the Kingdom.
Dan Finch
great!
Thank you for posting this story. I am a business leader and a climbing guide. The greatest satisfaction is helping others to do what they thought was impossible. It is a far better feeling than just getting to the summit of any climb.
John,
Thank you for the continued insight and knowledge. You have also inspired me to host my own leadership skills training website and teleconference.
Love all of it.John I met you in San Diego at a ACN convention.Good stuff!!
what a revelation! Thanks John!
John, thank you very much as I have benefitted very much from your books and sharings 6 years ago.
John, I rejoice in the sound of your stories.
I have also really enjoyed Leadership Gold, looking forward to Dream test…
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Insightful! I love especially the last paragraph. Thanks for the great words!
I really love to read the real stories you quoted. Then I can remember what is leadership.
“It is obvious that you have never been to the top of the mountain.” It is really true. I never think about it.
John, it’s amazing how much your books have helped me in my career. And taking others to the top as you mention is my goal. Thanks.
Hi John,
You see you say same times you wander why you devote your life to writing and teaching. Many leaders know God is using you to build and equip many upcoming leaders. So yes let’s, go is what you do for others thank you John. God bless you keep taking others up with you.
John, thanks for this post – really great to see the humility you have. Inspires me!
Thanks John. You are making the difference in our generetion. Sharing the gift Lord gave to you. Your words always make me think about what we have done with our leadership. Take people to the top was exactly Jesus did, taking us to the highest – Father’s side.
Caio
São Paulo – Brazil
We need people out there who are committed to developing others. One of my questions is a consultant…who do I pour my life into?
Thank you John for the reminder or shall we say the why of this whole journey! In the words of Zig I’ll see you at the top, I mean that!
Matthews, NC
John,
Thanks for this post. It was very helpful.
This lesson is a keeper.
[...] 4.) John Maxwell simply and concisely writes about The Purpose of Leadership, or Why I Do What I Do. [...]
Last week I attended your workshop in HCM city and it gave me many concepts to think over. One thing that cought my attention is your saying about the “lid”-the leadership level which defines the upper limit of company’s performance. Because there is no objectively defined measurement for leadership level then people normally associate the good leadership with good performance. In that case not the “lid” defines the performance but the performance will tell how high the “lid” is. Can you give some clarification on this point?
thank you john your blogs are really a tonic of inspiration
regards
swetal
kalyani pharmaceuticals
[...] How a leader is like a mountain-climbing guide – John Maxwell [...]
I am working with my immediate supervisor to share Leadership Gold with our entire department. Each week we look at the messages within the chapters of this book and it has drawn us closer together as a group. The idea of “Let’s go!” is so key to our team as we lead our school district in the distribution of technology tools and in the instructional development of our teachers. What seems like 2 simple words is really a mantra that we all need to support because without each other we could not truly provide our students with the support they need. Leadership Gold is making a difference!