Which comes first? Position or preparation?
ByWhen I meet people in social settings and they ask me what I do for a living, some of them are intrigued when I say I write books and speak. And they often ask what I write about. When I say leadership, the response that makes me chuckle most goes something like this: “Oh. Well, when I become a leader, I’ll read some of your books.” What I don’t say (but want to) is: “If you’d read some of my books, maybe you’d become a leader.”
Good leadership is learned in the trenches. Leading as well as they can wherever they are is what prepares leaders for more and greater responsibility. Becoming a good leader is a lifelong learning process. If you don’t try out your leadership skills and decision-making process when the stakes are small and the risks are low, you’re likely to get into trouble at higher levels when the cost of mistakes is high, the impact is far reaching, and the exposure is greater. Mistakes made on a small scale can be easily overcome. Mistakes made when you’re at the top can cost the organization greatly, and they damage a leader’s credibility.
How do you become the person you desire to be? You start now to adopt the thinking, learn the skills, and develop the habits of the person you wish to be. It’s a mistake to daydream about “one day” when you’ll be on top, instead of handling today so that it prepares you for tomorrow. As Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden said, “When opportunity comes it’s too late to prepare.” If you want to be a successful leader, learn to lead BEFORE you have a leadership position.
Sir, Thanks so much for this inspiration.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John C Maxwell, Allan Edver, Oliver Conovalov and others. Oliver Conovalov said: O que vem primeiro? Posição ou preparação? John Maxwell blog: http://goo.gl/fb/T5tUv [...]
Precisely. I personally believe that leadership is a life-long practice. It doesn’t start when you are at certain positions and it doesn’t end when you have reached certain positions as well.
This is so very true… God bless you
Someone once said: “It is better to be prepared and not have an opportunity, than have an opportunity and not be prepared.
I totally agree with you. Leadership, as well as whatever you do for leaving, is a non-stop everyday learning process.
Thanks for all you do John.
I believe that you must be prepare for most situations. Of course, there will be some situations that you may not be completely prepared for, but you will want to prepare yourself for the process. Personally, leadership is something that takes place daily. It can be with your family, among friends, or at work. Because your are not in a position of authority, does not mean you are not a leader. Reading John Maxwell’s and others’ books will give you a better insight of being a leader.
Thank you for this post and inspiration.
Leadership is first of all passion from the heart. When a person sees something that needs to be done, they do without a second glance any choose to count the cost and carry the load.
A leader takes it personal and is usually very passionate about whatever they are called to lead. The prepartion comes naturally and they are supernaturally drawn to the position.
What stirs the greatest passion in you? Do give a postion to someone who is not called, end in disaster. Dont look on outward appearances, but see with eyes of your hear who is called to what.
Leadership is not someday, it’s an everyday.
Thanks for igniting that passion for Leadership in me.
When preparation meets opportunity excellence is birth.Leadership is learnt & displayed in every step of our everyday lives.Thanks for another insight.
It made me think of a quote that a wise leader says often:
:Listen, Learn and then Lead” — Dr. John C Maxwell He also says the best leaders are listeners
I must admit just by listening and taking notes I have learned the more I listen the more I need to listen even more. The more I take notes just plays an even bigger importance on me taking even more notes.
very true… Blessing…
Another great piece from a dynamic communicator! Thanks for bringing this inspiration my way. Kip it coming coz someone here is being blessed everytime. Thanks Dr. John Maxwell
[...] “How do you become the person you desire to be? You start now to adopt the thinking, learn the skills, and develop the habits of the person you wish to be.” ~ John Maxwell [...]
Great leadership advice before. I love the last sentence “If you want to be a successful leader, learn to lead BEFORE you have a leadership position.” That means preparation before position. Is this kind of like going to college before you get a successful job in that degree? Learn how to do it before you get a position in it. Great thoughts!
[...] http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2011/02/07/which-comes-first-position-or-preparation/ [...]
My actions should be geared towards achieving my goals. Its always a blessing reading from you.
Vapid rambling. Look carefully at the post. It doesn’t actually do anything other than cleverly rearrange the keyword “leadership.” You don’t need a book to tell you that if you work hard, stay focused on your goals, and have common sensitivity to others, you’ll succeed more than if you don’t. I hate that this crap gets churned out for people who feel the lash of the recession. “Dr.” Maxwell, the world would be a lot better place if you just shut up.
Thank you, John.
I enjoyed this:
“It’s a mistake to daydream about “one day” when you’ll be on top, instead of handling today so that it prepares you for tomorrow.”
One of the first books on leadership I ever read was one of yours, thank you.
Preparation always comes first regardless. You don’t get a homemade meal without preparation. (unless of course mom is making it). You don’t get to go on that dream vacation without preparation. Everything we do in life we have some kind of preparation, so it seems kind of silly to think that a person can just magically gain any type of position if they had not prepared ahead of time.
Opportunities may open up when someone sees a sign that the person has the ability for the position even if they are not fully developed. I think this is where some people may think that position comes before preparation. As the girl scout motto goes “always be prepared”. The Bible tells us that we should be prepared in season and out. Otherwise we should always be preparing for you never know when a door of opportunity may open.
Pre,Po,Pa,Si,Ra – tion = Pre(pare),Po(sition at start),(continue pre)Pa(ring),(po)Si(tion at higher levels),(continuing prepa)Ra-tion ! Preparation is a continuous and life personal and skills growth that supports Position and enhances results and duplication.
So, . . . Prepopasiration ?
I cannot think of any success or achievement that was not preceded by good preparation. Sports, tutoring, job interview etc you need to be prepared if you want to be at the top. A position is the result of good preparation. When you prepare you do well and when you do well you get recognition and all that leads to a position.
John, I agree that one needs to ask oneself this question, Am I prepared enough to live to the expectation of the position when it gets available? There is no end to preparation.
Thankyou so much John Maxwell for all that you do, your wisdom that you share in your books and everywhere. You are a leadership guru.
Some people aspire. Some don’t. Some of the people who do aspire are trying to live right. And some of the people who don’t are also trying to live right. In life we are negotiating three things – where we came from, where we are, where we want to be, and where we ought to be. It’s possible to get stuck on any one of those for too long and lose your zest for life.
One of Maxwell’s teachings that can get lost in excitement is that a good attitude, without proper competency, can actually hurt you and work against you. This is true even as you progress through levels of influence – friends, sports-mates, study groups, clubs, family, work groups, and even beyond.
If you fail (daily), will you still be content? If you’re inner world becomes bigger than your outer world, will this cause you to function more effectively or will you be unable to negotiate the commitments you presently chose? Worshiping various forms of success (from the flavor of toothpaste you use to the kind of person you want to marry) can be just as damaging as not learning at all about different definitions and aspiring towards appropriate ones for you.
The question is what are you worshipping – if it’s a specific virtue like courage or humility or even preparation, you’re bound to have inappropriate trouble and you’ll need to smash those idols. If you are worshipping God, you will have appropriate trouble.
I write about leadership topics for parents at http://www.leadingmama.com. Parenthood is the ultimate example of what you are describing here: preparing for the position in advance can be helpful, but ultimately if you wait to be completely prepared, you’ll find yourself old and alone. A learning approach to the position is best. That requires being open-minded, reflecting on experiences, sharing with others, looking for new approaches, testing what works and what doesn’t etc. My most recent post on preparing for motherhood takes a look at breastfeeding (probably not something you’d consider a leadership topic!) What most mom’s learn is that no amount of preparation makes it easy, but leadership skills (vision, knowledge, initiative, persistence, feedback)can make nurturing your child very rewarding
I like the following lines:
“Oh. Well, when I become a leader, I’ll read some of your books.” What I don’t say (but want to) is: “If you’d read some of my books, maybe you’d become a leader.”
Your book are different than most of the leaders, I like to read and practice with a difference.
God Bless YOU
I like this lines,
“When opportunity comes it’s too late to prepare.” If you want to be a successful leader, learn to lead BEFORE you have a leadership position.”
Everyone who wants to be a leader, must to live like as a leader.
Thank you John for the teaching! You enlarged me, so that I am able to practise it and enlarge others. Although I lead only a small number of people in my local community, yet I know leadership is important.
On a separate note, I would like to hear a minute from “a minute with Maxwell” for some insight or topics that seldom been addressed, such as loyalty.
God bless you and your family!
This is accurately true..
Remember the story of the ant and grasshopper?
[...] Which comes first? Position or preparation?. [...]
As Jim Rohn said “if you want more you have to become more.” Where ever you are in your journey, become the leader today by preparing yourself for tomorrow’s opportunities. You can only take advantage of opportunities when you are fully prepared to act upon them.
Hi,
Yes I agree with that because some leader are just making actions when the trouble begins. To be a good leader is to read and prepare, that is very important to address any troubles that comes in. “Learn today and Lead tomorrow”. And in planning “Expect for the worse, so that when the worse comes, You know what to do”.
Go bless us.
Thank you, John. Leadership is indeed a lifelong learning process. Learn and grow or grow as you learn. The process informally starts right inside family settings as an elder brother/sister in the family then in school/college/among friends etc. And as one grows in age, it is important one grows as a leader. There are positions of leadership ahead for everyone. It is necessary to be learning always. Thanks
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