In this 21 part series, based on John Maxwell’s book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, I’m taking you on a journey towards better leadership. I share with you my own leadership lessons and insights. As a John Maxwell Team Member I’ll be happy to deliver transformational leadership training for your team or organization. See the details below.
Part 19 of 21: The Law of Timing
The Law of Timing: When to lead is as important as what to do and where to go. ~ John C. Maxwell
Good leaders understand that timing is everything. As an initiative Quick Start I have a tendency to rush things before the time is right. I made my own mistakes before I’ve learned the importance of this law and started to be intentional about how things are implemented.
Those of you who are more cautious probably think, ‘Yeah, just what I’ve been telling people like you. Be more cautious when taking action!’ Actually, you might need help in this area too. Those who resist the change tend to miss the train and decide to join the party after it’s over.
Every time a leader makes a move, there are really only four outcomes:
1. The wrong action at the wrong time leads to disaster
If you lead a department, small team or work with a group of clients and you take the wrong action at the wrong time, your people will suffer. And so will your leadership. And it doesn’t matter whether you were too early or too late. Once the timing is off, you can’t expect a great result.
Once your timing is off, you can't expect great result. Click To Tweet2. The right action at the wrong time brings resistance
In previous laws we discussed the importance of vision (where you’re going) and navigation (how to get there). But when it comes to good leadership, this isn’t enough. If you take the right action, but do it at the wrong time, you may still be unsuccessful because the people you lead can become resistant. If you have ever given a well meaning advice before the person was ready to hear it, you know exactly what I mean. Or if you lost a team member because you failed to communicate your appreciation. Relationships NEED the right action at the right time just like business, leadership, sports and other areas of our lives!
3. The wrong action at the right time is a mistake
People who are naturally entrepreneurial have a strong sense of timing. They intuitively know when it’s time to make a move – to seize an opportunity. Yet, they sometimes make mistakes in their actions. One of the major pitfalls in business environment is to know when to cut your losses or when to increase your investment to maximize your gains. Timing is everything, but the right actions are equally important.
Timing is everything, but the right actions are equally important. Click To Tweet4. The right action at the right time results in success
When the right action and the right timing come together, great things happen. Organizations achieve their goals and gain momentum. If you look at history of any organization, you will find a pivotal moment when the right leader took the right action at the right time and it transformed the organization.
If you are ready to improve as a leader, I’d be honored to help you on this journey.
If you’re an individual, you will want to join my Impact Academy, where I work with individuals from around the globe helping them to improve their leadership and results.
If you’re part of a team and want to step on this journey alongside of your team, contact me here to let me know about your team’s needs. I’ll be happy to offer a customized training based on your team’s needs.
This article is part of a 21-part leadership series.
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To your success,
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