The Law of The Big Mo (#16) – The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

The Law of the Big Mo is the sixteenth of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell and it states that:

MOMENTUM IS A LEADER’S BEST FRIEND 

All leaders face the challenge of creating change in an organization. The key is momentum—what I call the Big Mo. Just as every sailor knows that you can’t steer a ship that isn’t moving forward, strong leaders understand that to change direction, you first have to create forward progress—and that takes the Law of the Big Mo. (John C. Maxwell)

What is momentum?

Momentum can be defined as “mass in motion.” All objects have mass; so if an object is moving, then it has momentum – it has its mass in motion. The amount of momentum that an object has is dependent upon two variables: how much stuff is moving and how fast the stuff is moving.

For example, a bowling ball (large mass) moving very slowly (low velocity) has less momentum that the same bowling ball moving faster, but it may have the same momentum as a baseball (small mass) that is thrown fast (high velocity).

Starting something new is hard, but remember: wherever there is motion, there is momentum. Motion drives actions and actions drive momentum. It’s a vicious cycle.

JOHN MAXWELL’S LEADERSHIP LAW #16: THE LAW OF BIG MO

Do you have the Big Mo on your side? John Maxwell writes in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership that “momentum is a leader’s best friend.”

When you have no momentum even the simplest tasks feel impossible and you feel stuck and overwhelmed by failure. Like a train at a dead stop, it’s hard to get moving again.

In contrast, “an organization with momentum is like a train that’s moving at sixty miles per hour. You could build a steel-reinforced concrete wall across the tracks, and the train would plow right through it.” If you can create momentum, you can achieve anything.

THE LAW OF BIG MO

The 7 key Facts About Momentum

1. Momentum is the great exaggerator

When things are going well, momentum makes them even better. When things aren’t going well, momentum makes them seem worse. Momentum is like magnifying glass.

2. Momentum makes leaders look better than they are

When they’re winning, people are willing to overlook the leader’s shortcomings and forget about their past mistakes.

3. Momentum helps followers perform better than they are

When leadership is strong and there is momentum in an organization, people are motivated and inspired to perform at higher levels. The Law of Big Mo boosts everyone’s success.

4. Momentum is easier to steer than to start

Getting started takes effort and time. But once you’re moving forward, things get easier. The Law of Big Mo tells you that while it’s hard to get going, once you’re moving, you can control more easily where you are going.

5. Momentum is the most powerful change agent

With enough momentum, almost any change is possible. People trust leaders with a proven track record and they accept more easily hanges from people who have led them to success before.

6. Momentum is the leader’s responsibility

To create momentum you need a vision, a good team, and motivation. It is the leader’s responsibility to initiate momentum and keep it going.

7. Momentum begins inside the leader

Momentum begins within the leader’s vision, passion, and energy. Energy and enthusiasm attracts like-minded people. When the leader motivate his people to achieve, the momentum grows and the belief becomes contagious.

“One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals” — Michael Korda

THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP BY JOHN C. MAXWELL

The book is divided in 21 main chapters, one for each of the 21 leadership laws. Below are the links to the individual chapters.

1. THE LAW OF THE LID
2. THE LAW OF INFLUENCE
3. THE LAW OF PROCESS
4. THE LAW OF NAVIGATION
5. THE LAW OF E.F.HUTTON
6. THE LAW OF SOLID GROUND
7. THE LAW OF RESPECT
8. THE LAW OF INTUITION
9. THE LAW OF MAGNETISM
10. THE LAW OF CONNECTION
11. THE LAW OF THE INNER CIRCLE
12. THE LAW OF EMPOWERMENT
13. THE LAW OF REPRODUCTION
14. THE LAW OF BUY-IN
15. THE LAW OF VICTORY
16. THE LAW OF THE BIG MO
17. THE LAW OF PRIORITIES
18. THE LAW OF SACRIFICE
19. THE LAW OF TIMING
20. THE LAW OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH
21. THE LAW OF LEGACY

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