Maxwell Leadership Podcast

Hosted by John Maxwell

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470

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Maxwell Leadership Podcast is a regular examination of what it means to be a transformational leader—someone who daily influences people to think, speak, and act to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others. This podcast will teach you the principles, practices, and process of becoming a transformational leader because leadership isn't an event—it's an uphill journey. Every week we will offer a free tool to help you on this journey, so let leadership authority Dr. John C. Maxwell show you the way.

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August 19, 202629 min

The Growth Guarantee (Part 1)

Growth isn't automatic, but it can be guaranteed. In this week's episode, the first in a two-part series, John reveals his personal blueprint for guaranteed growth and the three simple disciplines that set extraordinary leaders apart. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson offer strategies to help you turn intentional growth into a daily habit, no matter where you're starting. Key takeaways: You can't learn anything while you're talking. Sustained thinking will change your life. Your growth must be intentional. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Growth Guarantee (Part 1) Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Guarantee and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the Every Day with Purpose online course for 75% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Rise with strength, clarity, and purpose with Kelvin Henry's guide to resilience Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

August 12, 202634 min

What People Misunderstand About Success (Part 2)

This week on the Maxwell Leadership Podcast, find out what an ice cube can teach you about patience and results. Today, John Maxwell finishes up his two-part lesson on the compounding power of daily action, reflection, and intentional growth on the path to lasting leadership success. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede dive into real-world strategies and personal stories to help you immediately implement John's teaching. Key takeaways: Your first step is your most important step . Success is a series of steps, not one giant leap. If you can't get happy where you are, you can't get happy where you're going. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the What People Misunderstand About Success (Part 2) Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Misunderstand and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the 21 Laws of Leadership online course for 20% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Why So Many Leaders Stop Growing Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

August 5, 202640 min

What People Misunderstand About Success (Part 1)

The real measure of success isn't the recognition you receive, but the daily choices no one sees. In this week's episode—the first in a two-part series—John unpacks the misunderstood foundations of success and reveals why consistency, not accolades, is the true driver of extraordinary results. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede share practical strategies for applying John's success journey to your own leadership and team impact. Key takeaways: Desire is the seed of every great accomplishment. The greatest way to make progress is to move forward. You get perfect as you take the steps; you don't get perfect to take the steps. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the What People Misunderstand About Success (Part 1) Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Misunderstand and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." This episode is sponsored by BELAY : Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters. To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, The Difficult Conversation Playbook. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access. References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the Every Day with Purpose online course for 75% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Better Days Are Ahead of You Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

July 29, 202631 min

Are You Leading a Good Life or Just Maintaining a Good Image?

Are you leading a life of real impact, or just working hard to perfect your image? In this week's episode, John Maxwell teaches how embracing authenticity over appearance is a central pillar for meaningful leadership and lasting success. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson share practical strategies to help you bring authenticity to the forefront of your leadership—on your team, at home, and beyond. Key takeaways: The way to balance and stabilize an image issue is authenticity. You lose your authenticity when you try to hold onto things that you no longer believe, accept, or think . "Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position." — Mahatma Gandhi Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Are You Leading a Good Life or Just Maintaining a Good Image? Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Image and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the 15 Laws of Growth online course for 80% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Learn more about leadership, love, and excellence from Marcus Buckingham The Qualities of an Authentic Leader Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

July 22, 202639 min

Good Leaders Make Friends, Not Fans

Are you letting your success create distance between you and your team? In this episode, John Maxwell unpacks why leadership success can easily lead to isolation—and what you can do to resist it. Discover how making friends (not just fans) helps you stay relatable, authentic, and influential. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede dive into real-life strategies to help you put connection at the heart of your leadership journey. Key Takeaways Success can isolate, but connection is the cure. Intentional relationships keep leaders grounded and approachable. Service trumps titles. The more you value and serve those around you, the greater trust and real influence you build. Shrink the gap with authenticity: practice humility, seek honest feedback, and be present with your people. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Good Leaders Make Friends, Not Fans Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Friends and clicking " Download the Bonus Resource. " Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the Change Your World online course for 66% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community What Serving Others Has Taught Me Podcast Episode How Serving Others Unlocks Self-Discovery Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

July 15, 202637 min

How to Stabilize Your Success

How do you keep your success from becoming the very thing that sabotages your leadership? In this week's episode, John Maxwell reveals the overlooked practices that stabilize lasting achievement and keep leaders grounded at every stage of their journey. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Robinson share real-world strategies and thoughtful application to help you translate John's insights into leadership habits you can use today. Key takeaways: True success starts within—before you pursue outer victories, define what success means to you at the deepest level. Power without accountability destabilizes leaders; the healthiest teams and organizations actively cultivate structures of honest feedback. Those closest to you, who know your flaws and strengths, should respect and love you most—a leader's greatest validation comes from authenticity, not applause. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the How to Stabilize Your Success Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Stable and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the 21 Laws of Leadership online course for 20% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Preparing is Caring Podcast Episode Cultivating Humility for Lasting Influence Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

July 8, 202636 min

Learn These Skills to Become a Memorable Leader: A Fireside Chat with John Maxwell and Jeff Henderson

Do you want to be the kind of leader people never forget ? This week in a first-of-its-kind react-style Maxwell Leadership Podcast episode, John Maxwell sits down with Jeff Henderson to share the essential skills that turn everyday leadership into a lasting legacy . As John teaches, Mark Cole provides practical strategies to help you activate John's teachings and elevate your impact right now. Key takeaways: Empowering others doesn't diminish your influence—it multiplies it, as the best leaders know they're always stronger together than alone. Authentic leadership requires living the message before you teach it so your words carry moral authority and genuine connection. Every growth opportunity comes with a trade-off, and true leaders relentlessly trade comfort for progress and excuses for action. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Learn These Skills to Become a Memorable Leader W orksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Memorable and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." This episode is sponsored by BELAY : Leaders, stop trying to do it all yourself. The best leaders know their limits, operate out of their strengths, and set others up for success. Find freedom with BELAY — pairing you with vetted U.S. virtual assistants so you can focus on what matters. To help you get started, BELAY is offering Maxwell Leadership listeners a free download of their resource, The Difficult Conversation Playbook. Just text MAXWELL to 55123 for FREE access. References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the High Road Leadership online course for 33% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Book bundle discount: Get the books from today's episode at 35% off, today through 7/21! Listen to John Maxwell's songs here! Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

July 1, 202645 min

The Five-Step Cycle That Turns Failure into Your Fastest Path to Growth

Your failure is the most effective engine for your growth — and the most underutilized. In this week's episode, John reveals the five-step cycle that transforms every setback into your next leap forward as a leader. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede dive into real-world strategies to help you put this growth cycle into action and boost your team's innovation. Key takeaways: True innovation thrives when leaders create a culture where failing is seen as a crucial part of learning and improving. The sequence of testing, failing, learning, improving, and re-entering ensures that mistakes become stepping stones , not stumbling blocks . Sustainable growth comes from asking, "What did I learn?" after every setback and quickly applying those lessons to move forward stronger than before. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Five-Step Cycle That Turns Failure into Your Fastest Path to Growth Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Cycle and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the Every Day with Purpose online course for 75% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Get John Maxwell's How to Get a Return on Failure and Failing Forward for 20% off (now through July 14!) Success and Failure: The Partnership that Fuels Growth Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

June 24, 202637 min

How Great Leaders Stay Focused When Everything is Falling Apart

You've been there: Pressure is high. Priorities are competing. Everything feels urgent. How do you stay focused when you're being pulled in a million different directions? In this week's episode, John Maxwell reveals the mindset and habits that empower leaders to bring stability and hope to the seasons that matter most. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede provide practical strategies you can use right now to lead your team through challenging times with clarity and confidence. Key takeaways: Traction comes from focusing on what you can control and letting go of what you cannot. Write it down, put it before you, and act on it every day. Difficult times don't develop leaders—they reveal them. Who you are when pressure mounts determines your influence and your team's trust. When clarity about the future is impossible, focus instead on certainty for the next step, showing up with confidence, steadiness, hope, and presence for those you lead. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the How Great Leaders Stay Focused When Everything is Falling Apart Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/ StayFocused and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the 21 Laws of Leadership online course for 20% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community How to Increase Your Focus Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

June 17, 202634 min

Why So Many Leaders Stop Growing

Leaders go farther when they don't see a finish line — are you letting perceived limits hold back your impact? In this week's episode, John Maxwell reveals why so many leaders stop growing, and how leaders can maintain a lifelong commitment to learning and relevance. After his lesson, Mark Cole and Traci Morrow unpack the practical steps you can take to apply these principles in your own leadership. Key takeaways: Growth requires continual refreshment—leaders who thrive consistently seek to update their thinking, materials, and approach to stay relevant. The willingness to anticipate new challenges and resist resting on past achievements is essential for forward-focused leadership. True legacy is built by pouring into others. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Why So Many Leaders Stop Growing Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/ KeepGrowing and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Get the 15 Laws of Growth online course for 80% off Apply this week's episode with other growth-minded leaders in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Social Community Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

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