Title: The Self-Aware Leader: Play to Your Strengths and Unleash Your Team
Author: John C. Maxwell
Year: 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7852-6664-8 (HC), 978-0-7852-8819-0 (eBook)
Thomas J. Watson, the former chairman of IBM, said, ‘Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.’
– John C. Maxwell
The book’s title intrigues me; it’s about leadership, how to grow and improve to become a leader and an example to others.
As I go through, it becomes clear that it is more about leading ourselves as individuals — more about being conscious of our own strengths and weaknesses, as well as our awareness of our own leadership abilities.
There is a lot to take in from this book because it has a lot of advice and recommendations that can assist you and me become better leaders for ourselves and others.
The word ‘self-aware’ in the title implies the ability to focus on oneself and how one’s actions, thoughts, or emotions align or do not align with what one desires.
This book appeals to me since it teaches how to make better choices or decisions that can lead to a good outcome while also improving one’s leadership role in a team.
Furthermore, the advice in this book will help you in becoming an effective leader while also discovering, learning, and correcting your own faults.
Generally, those in positions of leadership must have a thorough understanding of themselves, their strengths and flaws, and their own limitations.
Furthermore, Maxwell advises leaders on how to face harsh criticism with grace, how to treat others with respect by being humble, interactive, and becoming a listener to others.
As a group leader, Maxwell’s book trains you to constantly become self-aware in micromanaging people and begin managing priorities.
This is a book that everyone should read, not just leaders. Each chapter in the book is like a new lesson that expands our minds to our own self-awareness.
Thus, what is more important from this book is that we need to learn more from those around us, so there are much to learn from the book.
Another impressive aspect of Maxwell’s book is the number of quotes about leadership, sometimes about life, wisdom, and advice.
According to one of Maxwell’s quotes, “… people’s purpose in life is always connected to their giftedness. It always works that way. You will not be called to do something that you have no talent for. You will discover your purpose by finding and remaining in your strength.”
Hence, whether you are a leader or not, there are many great quotes that can help and guide you to be a better person.
I would recommend and read this book because, in my opinion, it can help individuals learn and understand themselves.
It may also be valuable for new and seasoned leaders; it is never too late to learn and understand, as well as to take some advice from a book with various inputs.
Aside from that, Maxwell has done an excellent job by including numerous inputs in his writing about his journey to being a self-aware leader. There is a lot to learn and do to better ourselves.
