I have already discussed John C. Maxwell’s three laws of leadership based on his published title The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Law#1: The law of the Lid, Law#2: the Law of Influence and Law#3: the Law of Process. Now I am going to discuss his 4th law, i.e. the Law of Navigation. The main theme of this law is: anyone can steer the ship but it takes a leader to chart the course.
A leader is a real navigator who controls the direction of a movement. He draws the entire trip in his mind before he leaves the dock. He has a clear vision for reaching to the right destination. He understands what it will take to get him there and knows who he will need to take along to be a successful voyager. He recognizes the obstacles long before they appear on his journey.
A leader is one who sees more than others see. He is the one who sees farther than and before others see. He understand that self-deception can cost him his vision.
A good navigator draws on past experience. Because success teaches him what he is capable of doing and gives him confidence. Failure also can teach him a greater lesson because failure reveals his wrong assumptions, character flaws, errors in judgement and poor working methods.
A good navigator is a good listener who listens to sounds of the waves. I mean, Listens to others. He recognizes that he does not have all the answers. He gets necessary information from other reliable sources. A good navigator also makes sure his conclusion represents both faith and fact. He has faith that he can take his people all the way to the shore but he also face facts realistically and balances optimism and realism.
Steps to Apply the Law of Navigation:
To apply the law of navigation in your daily life you should follow the following three steps :
(1) Try to make it regular practice to reflect on your positive and negative experiences. Build time for reflection of law of navigation into your schedule.
(2) Do homework, hold conversation with experts and team members to gather information and examine current conditions that could have an impact on your success.
(3) Determine if you learn more on faith or facts. Ask trusted friends and colleagues, then add someone with the opposite inclination to your team and try to achieve a balance.
To practice the law navigation you have to PLAN AHEAD:
- Predetermine your course of actions
- Lay out your goals
- Adjust your priorities well
- Notify the objectives to key personnel involved in your voyage
- Allow time for acceptance
- Head into action without delay
- Expect problems to arise and resolve them
- Always point to your success, find ways to get to your destination
- Daily review your progress with planning.
The secret of the law navigation is nothing but preparation. It is not the size of the project that determine the acceptance, support and success but it is the size of the leader.
Queries to the Readers of Leadership:
Before coming at a conclusion to this law of leadership, I want to ask you a few questions: Do you really know:
- Why you are going there (purpose is important)?
- Where you are going (destination along with obstacles)?
- Should you take your necessary people with you to fight back the obstacles?
- If so, what is the process?
- Have you shared your vision and the process with the leaders you follow?
- Have you received their (your leaders) input and blessing ?
I think you understand the power of influence and required tools to achieve this quality of leadership. I will discuss Maxwell’s 5th Law of Leadership, Law of E.F Hutton, even though this law is replaced by the Law of Addition and is merged with the Law of Process. Till then , bye.
