Tag: Leadership Qualities

Cal Ripken, Jr.’s 8 Elements of Perseverance

Ripken Get in the Game

During this fifth month of the year, I focus on my 5th Leadership Tip – “Enjoy the Journey.”  This tip is aligned with the Fruit of the Spirit of Faithfulness.  Part of Faithfulness is Perseverance—or a “steady hand” in the face of peer pressure, disrespect or contempt, distractions, busy-ness, or weariness.  Earlier this week, I wrote our 3rd Grader, Tanner, a note of encouragement as he prepared for State Testing.  I encouraged him to persevere, using 1 Peter 5:7’s admonishment to “Cast all your anxieties on God because He cares for you.”

As part of this Leadership Tip, I encourage people shooting for the stars to “Get a Mentor.”  In fact, I like to point out that you should have a Mount Rushmore of Mentors, just as I blogged about mine a couple of years back.

One hero or mentor of mine growing up was Cal Ripken, Jr.  I appreciated the way he played the game.  More than seven years after he retired, he wrote Get in the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance That Make the Difference.

Click here to learn from the Hall of Famer.

Who You Are is Who You Attract

But the law of magnetism really is true: who you are is who you attract. - John C. Maxwell

Out of This World Leaders are always on the lookout for good people. That’s where the 9th Law of Leadership comes in. The Law of Magnetism says that who you are as a leader is who you attract. I’ve always tried to use this rule of thumb when adding people to my team—would I be willing to work for him or her? I want to surround myself with people who are better than me with complementary gifts and skills.

Each of us carries around a mental list of what kind of people we would like in our organization. Believe it or not, whom you get is not determined by what you want, but by who you are. In most situations, you draw people who possess the same qualities you do.

It is possible for a leader to go out and recruit people unlike him or her, but it’s crucial to recognize that people who are different will not naturally be attracted to the leader. You have to be intentional to build a diverse team (check out my tips – Be a LEADer in D&I).

Click here to learn what the John Maxwell Bible says about the Law of Magnetism.