The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow

Maxwell centers this chapter on the assertion that courage is essential for effective leadership, using the life of Eddie Rickenbacker, a World War I flying ace who later transformed Eastern Airlines into the first profitable commercial carrier, to illustrate this principle. Rickenbacker’s story demonstrates how courage manifests across multiple domains: He overcame educational and age barriers to become a decorated combat pilot, then later challenged both conventional business practices and presidential authority to build a sustainable aviation company. Maxwell defines courage not as fearlessness but as action despite fear.

Maxwell presents four core principles about courage in leadership. First, courage begins as an internal struggle, requiring leaders to confront their own fears before taking action. Second, courageous leadership means standing on principle rather than appeasing others or maintaining superficial harmony; Maxwell references Martin Luther King Jr. to underscore that moral courage often requires taking unpopular stands. Third, when leaders demonstrate courage, they inspire commitment and bravery in their followers, creating a ripple effect throughout organizations. Fourth, courage expands one’s life possibilities, while fear constrains them.

Maxwell’s approach is particularly influenced by his background in pastoral leadership and organizational consulting, which shapes his emphasis on moral conviction and inspiring others. The chapter’s practical exercises—ranging from confronting difficult conversations to making significant career changes—reflect the action-oriented ethos common in leadership development literature of the 1990s, when this book was published.