These 15 laws of Growth were written by leadership expert, John Maxwell, to help others understand how to reach their full growth potential. Read below to learn the essence of each of these laws.
Use these laws of growth in your own journey towards success in order to maximize your full potential. Dr. Maxwell’s laws are intrinsic to the success of any leader and understanding how they can benefit you is the first step to effective leadership
1.
The Law of Intentionality.
Growth doesn’t just happen. You must be intentional about your growth. Seek opportunities that allow you to grow yourself. Growth only happens when you are actively pursuing it.
2.
The Law of Awareness.
You must know yourself to grow yourself. The first step in change is awareness. After this is completed then you are able change.
3.
The Law of the Mirror.
You must acknowledge value in yourself in order to add value to yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others and limit self talk that is negative. No one else but you is responsible for your life and its outcomes.
4.
The Law of Reflection.
Learning to pause allows growth to catch up with you. You must take time to pause, to question and strive towards growth every day.
“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” - Peter Drucker
5.
The Law of Consistency.
Motivation gets you going, discipline keeps you growing. Develop the good habits that lead to success. Just showing up is 80% of success. Some people don’t reach success merely because they don’t show up. You can reach success faster than these people by just consistently being present.
6.
The Law of Environment.
Growth thrives in conducive surroundings. You must always be in a positive growth environment to reach your potential. If you don’t find yourself in this kind of environment, do what you can to change that.
7.
The Law of Design.
To maximize growth, develop strategies. Don’t adopt other people’s plans, rather, develop your own unique plan. If you go to work on your own goals, you will be rewarded.
8.
The Law of Pain.
Good management of bad experiences leads to great growth. You must suffer pain to realize a gain. Be willing to look for opportunities even in moments of pain and pursue them. No pain, No gain. No investment, no ROI.
9.
The Law of the Ladder.
Character growth determines the height of your personal growth. Personal growth means that we are staying true to whom we should be and maintaining our integrity.
10.
The Law of the Rubber Band.
Growth stops when you lose the tension between where you are and where you could be. If you aren’t stretching yourself than you aren’t growing. Don’t let the rubber band become limp.
“Only a mediocre person is always at his best.” - W. Somerset Maugham
11.
The Law of the Trade-Offs.
You have to give up to grow up. The difference between where we are and where we want to be is created by the changes we are willing to make in our lives.
“People will cling to an unsatisfactory way of life rather than change in order to get something better for fear of getting something worse.” - Eric Hoffer.
12.
The Law of Curiosity.
Growth is stimulated by asking Why? Ask more questions. When you question more, you open yourself up to more knowledge and opportunities for growth.
The old saying rings true here: Those who can do will always have a job, and the people who know why, will always be their boss.
13.
The Law of Modeling.
It’s hard to improve when you have no one but yourself to follow. Find a mentor and look for a coach. You can’t learn from someone who hasn’t been there before. Surround yourself with good role models and other positive people who will be able to help inspire you along in your journey. Find the people who have done the things you want to achieve and ask them lots of questions.
14.
The Law of Expansion.
Growth always increases your capacity. Most experts believe we only use 10% of our potential. This is scary and wonderful at the same time. If we have the right attitude, we have the capacity to grow ourselves.
15.
The Law of Contribution.
Growing yourself enables you to grow others. You can’t give what you don’t possess. Grow yourself first in order to grow others. Your personal development is one of the best gifts that you can give another person.