Maxwell holds Leadership Forum at CIU

Chris Rice’s eyes were scanning the crowd in the Moore Fitness Center after hearing John Maxwell speak at the Columbia International University John C. Maxwell Leadership Summit ’23. Rice was hoping to introduce himself to the famous leadership expert and get a photo with him.

Rice, who serves on a Columbia area school board and is a utilities operation manager, was full of enthusiasm as he took a quick moment to chat about what he learned from Maxwell, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 26 million books in 50 languages.

Rice said Maxwell’s teaching is helping him to grow so he can lead those he supervises on the job.

“I’m thinking through what can I do to help them grow and be the best they can be, not so much to make me look good, but to make them the best they can be,” Rice said as he hurried toward the corner of the room where he noticed Maxwell was greeting dozens of people. 

Maxwell spoke to over 800 community members, CIU students, faculty and staff in Shortess Chapel during a morning session, and met with event sponsors over lunch in the gym of the Fitness Center. At both gatherings, he discussed the importance of good communication from his newest book, “The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication.”

Maxwell encourages people to overcome the fear of public speaking by thinking of others —the audience — and not themselves. He calls it “The Law of Connecting.”

“Communicators know it’s all about others. If you want to be a great communicator you have to get over yourself. You just have to,” Maxwell said. “Whenever you are thinking about yourself, you can’t give yourself to others, and great communicators know it’s not about you. You will not become an incredible communicator until you know it’s not about you.”

Heather Hiett, a commercial insurance advisor says Maxwell’s message is just what she needed to hear.  

“With what I do, it’s incredibly important to effectively and emotionally communicate with your audience and your clients,” Hiett said. “I want to communicate better so I can help people. That’s why I’m in (the insurance) business. Because I know I can help people.”

Meanwhile, Chris Rice did meet John Maxwell. He posted a photo with Maxwell on Twitter.

This was the sixth consecutive year that CIU has hosted a John C. Maxwell Leadership event and this year it was a part of CIU’s 100^th anniversary celebration.

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.