Makers, Takers, and Breakers How to Be a Leader and Contributor to a Network Marketing Organization
As a devoted fan of John Maxwell’s books on leadership, I feel like I have been shaped by his work for over ten years. I do not remember how I learned about his books on leadership, but finding them has had as great an impact on my professional and personal development as almost anything else I have done.
The company I have been with since 1999 has announced that John Maxwell will be speaking at our 20th Annual International Convention. Our President established a book club in anticipation of the big names at Convention this year. As a result, I have read – no, make that devoured – Maxwell’s newest book, The Five Levels of Leadership. I feel like my world of leadership has tipped once again on its axis.
The following is my interpretation of Maxwell’s description of three types of members to a professional organization: takers, makers, and breakers. He gets the credit for the distinction. The description is based on my thoughts and feelings after reading his comments. Since I am a network marketing professional, team building is essential for the profitability and stability of an organization. This is why Maxwell’s work is so important.
Are You a Maker, Taker, or Breaker?
1. Makers- They go for it. They have their eye on the prize. They live to be inspiring and influential on other’s behalf. They love to grow so they are usually open to the chance to expand. They live outside of their comfort zone, generally have very positive energy, and build through attracting others who are like them. They capitalize on “like attracts like”. They take the initiative and do not limit themselves to what they are told to do. They love to work a lot and often see no difference between work and play. They have a clear target and always keep it in mind. They thrive in a challenging situation because they know that means more growth, more opportunity, and more chance to make a difference for others. They relish obstacles, knowing that they will get better by moving over them. They love to go after the results that measure their success. The makers on my team get themselves going daily and typically get themselves started on their own. Makers love to help other people because they see this as a win/win. They are built to take responsibility for their own productivity.
2. Takers- I got an email recently from someone who wanted mentoring from me. She sent me a long list of her questions, requesting fifteen minutes of my time. I looked at this email, realized that she was essentially asking me to help her overhaul her entire business and suggested that she book a for-fee coaching session with me, and I would be happy to take an hour or thirty minutes to go over her concerns with her. She said, “No, thanks anyway. I just wanted you to tell me what to do.” Takers do not really understand the law of reciprocity. They do not understand giving first, or the value of making a contribution. Watch out for takers because they may take up lots of your time, but they are not so focused on adding value back. If you are a team leader, know that takers can potentially require lots of time and energy to train, but they do not necessarily create results from what they learn. Takers may have the best of intentions, but after you have worked with some, you may wonder where the training went since there is little to show for your efforts. Since takers are focused on what’s in it for them, they may not necessarily be energized by giving back to others. Takers can be talkers, may or may not be good listeners, but whether or not they want to make a difference for others, tend to get blocked. They get easily derailed by obstacles and need a lot of help to get over them.
3. Breakers- These are people who tend toward negative energy. Instead of a “can do” attitude, they create barricades around them. These barricades live between them and their so-called goals. Even if they are not particularly negative, they just seem to get in their own way. And sometimes they block the progress of a team or an organization. They sometimes will blame others, they tend to find fault, and they are not eager or willing to take responsibility. They look outside themselves for why things don’t go well rather than inside themselves. They are potentially toxic to an organization. They spend way too much energy being critical of others or of themselves rather than find ways to make contributions. They tend to see the world as a half-empty cup. And even if breakers do not have negative energy or criticism toward others, they tend to be their own worst enemies. So much of their effort and energy gets taken up by a tendency to not believe in themselves. Again, like takers, they may have the best of intentions, but have blocks that are difficult to overcome.
In building a networking organization, you will find all types of people. Some with whom you work will be a blend of these three groups. For example, I have worked with makers who needed a lot of help before they really took off on their own. I am so glad to have invested in people like this. You don’t always know, and Maxwell will be the first to tell you that you cannot always be assured to recover your investment in people. This is why leadership is so important. It is also why your decision to be a maker and overcome those inevitable obstacles and challenges that pave the road to success ensures that you will, by extension, be the catalyst for as many people as possible who come to work with you.
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
