The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
Week 13: Law 12 — The Law of Empowerment
Read Chapter 12 of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Key concept: only secure leaders give power to others.
Previewing Week 13 of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Read 3 of 6 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 23-week guide when you’re ready.
The Law of Empowerment exposes one of the most common — and most self-defeating — patterns in leadership: hoarding power out of insecurity, then wondering why the team never grows.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Maxwell opens this chapter with the contrast between Henry Ford (who famously refused to empower others, even dismantling the Model T) and his son Edsel (who tried to empower and was crushed by his father). What does the Ford story reveal about how insecurity at the top poisons an entire organization?
2.Maxwell identifies three barriers that keep leaders from empowering others: desire for job security, resistance to change, and lack of self-worth. Which of these three is most likely to be your personal barrier? What does that barrier protect you from feeling?
3.Maxwell argues that leaders who empower others multiply their impact, while leaders who hoard authority limit it. Can you think of a leader — in your experience or in history — who multiplied their impact by genuinely releasing power to others? What did that look like in practice?
a.What did they risk by empowering others?
b.What did they gain?