A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

This maxim is widely circulated in leadership training and motivational contexts under John C. Maxwell’s name, reflecting his broader emphasis on leadership as influence grounded in example. It is typically presented as a concise teaching line rather than a remark tied to a single documented speech event. In Maxwell’s framework, leadership is not merely positional authority: it involves competence (knowing the way), personal commitment and integrity (going the way), and mentorship or modeling for others (showing the way). Because the quote is frequently reproduced in secondary compilations and online materials without consistent citation, its precise first appearance in Maxwell’s published work is difficult to verify from commonly available references.

Maxwell’s aphorism compresses his leadership philosophy into three escalating obligations. “Knows the way” points to competence: a leader must understand the goal, the terrain, and the principles guiding action. “Goes the way” adds credibility and moral authority—leadership is not merely instruction but personal commitment and example, including risk-bearing and discipline. “Shows the way” emphasizes communication and development: leaders translate vision into a path others can follow, teaching, modeling, and removing obstacles so the group can move together. The line also implies that any one element alone is insufficient: knowledge without action is hollow, action without guidance is opaque, and guidance without knowledge is misdirection.