The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
Week 22: Law 21 — The Law of Legacy
Read Chapter 21 of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Key concept: a leader's lasting value is measured by succession.
Previewing Week 22 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 final law in the book asks the ultimate leadership question — not "What have you accomplished?" but "What will remain when you are gone?" — and it is worth sitting with that question longer than any other.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Maxwell argues that the Law of Legacy is the capstone of all the other laws — it is the ultimate test of leadership. Why is succession (what you leave behind) a more accurate measure of leadership than achievement (what you accomplished while you were there)?
2.Maxwell uses the tragic contrast between Jack Welch (GE) and Agamemnon (the Greek general) — Welch systematically developed successors and invested in building a leadership culture; Agamemnon led brilliantly in battle but left nothing that lasted. What specific practices made Welch's legacy durable? What can leaders at any level learn from that?
3.Maxwell says that most leaders are so consumed by the urgent demands of today that they give almost no thought to the legacy they are building. How much intentional thought have you given to your legacy? If your leadership ended today, what would your team or organization do differently because you were there?
a.What values, habits, or systems have you embedded in the people and culture around you?
b.Are those the things you most want to be remembered for?