Make dust or eat dust. This was one of the first leadership axioms I ever learned. And its truth is timeless. As a leader, you want people who are always moving forward, always advancing, always making dust.
For my 50th birthday my in-laws purchased for me some top-of-the-line luggage. In the past, I always traveled with an average pull-along suitcase. This was never a problem. I was perfectly content.
But then I got to travel with the American Tourister 1000 suitcase. With its four spinning wheels I now have the ability to either push the suitcase or have it right beside me as I walk through airport terminals and hotel parking lots.
As I walked through the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport this past weekend, I was reminded that as leaders it is so much easier to push things rather than pull them. This is especially true for the people you are called to lead.
The following are 10 Benefits To Pushing People Forward Rather Than Pulling Them Along:
- Pushing people forward allows you and the organization to go at a faster pace. Pulling people slows you and the organization down.
- Pushing people forward allows you to always being looking towards the future. Pulling people forces you to always be looking backwards into the past.
- Pushing people forward takes more work but it is worth it. When you lead leaders they put up a fight. This better quality suitcase is sturdier and heavier. Pulling people feels easier. The suitcase was smaller and lighter. But there is no way it would last as long.
- Pushing people forward makes you more flexible, nimble and have more options. Pulling people means you are only going to go in one direction.
- Pushing people forward allows you can carry a heavier load. Pulling people forces you to carry a less.
- Pushing people forward gives you as the leader more confidence. Pulling people gives you less confidence.
- Pushing people forward sustains your leadership. Pulling people limits your length of leadership.
- Pushing people forward means they still go forward even when you stop pushing. People who are pulled immediately stop when you quit pulling.
- Pushing people forward allows you to leverage additional energy in other areas of the organization. Pulling people requires all your energy.
- The people you push forward are indispensable to your team. The people you pull are not indispensable to your team.
Therefore, surround yourself with high-energy people who are always moving forward. They will help you accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible.
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