home | site map | privacy policy |
|
Leadership - Push vs. Pull?
At your next staff meeting consider leading your team through the following discussion. This lesson is focused on getting people to think in terms of effective leadership. When helping a co-worker, or a customer, employees must understand their role as a leader. The exercise goes like this: Introduction of the Exercise: (feel free to create your own similar story to support the exercise) Like many who come from a small town, I was amazed at the number of transients who made the campus of the university I attended their local residence. At first, the idea of having to walk past many of these individuals was a bit scary. I was not accustomed to being solicited for money or "spare change". However, after a few weeks of walking to class and regularly being asked for "a quarter for a cup of coffee", the experience quickly became routine. In fact, after a while, if I didn't see one of the regular panhandlers for a period of time, I would wonder where he was keeping himself. Certainly, after a brief period, the transients became a small part of my environment, part of my daily experience of college life. Over time, I got to know some of them by name, and they became familiar with who I was. In any event, one of the most notable transients I became acquainted with was a man by the name of Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben could often be seen dragging a short rope behind him as he walked down the street. You would think, by watching Uncle Ben, that he was delusional and under the misguided assumption that he had a dog tied to the end of the rope. Uncle Ben would look back at the end of the rope as he walked, and say - "Come on now boy, keep up." Very often someone would witness this questionable behavior as Uncle Ben approached and they would ask simply, "Why are you pulling that rope?" (At this point, give each team member a short piece of string and ask them to experiment with the "rope". Pull it back and forth along the table. Then ask them to guess as to what Uncle Ben's response is going to be. Then continue the story.) Again, very often someone would witness the behavior as Uncle Ben approached, and they would ask simply, "Why are you pulling that rope?" Uncle Ben would quickly reply, "Well have you ever tried PUSHING a rope? It doesn't work very well!" This always made Uncle Ben holler in laughter as he kept walking past the person who fell victim to his humor. You have to give Uncle Ben credit. Indeed, you can't very well push a rope. In conclusion, make this strong point to your group: By "pulling" the rope, it will follow you anywhere. Try to "push" it, and the rope goes nowhere at all. The same can be said for the art of leadership. Leadership is the ability to make people want to follow you. They do that when they see that you are willing to work alongside them and take a vested interest in their success. People will follow you if they feel you know where you are taking them. If they feel you have integrity and truly care about their success. We must each pull our co-workers with us. We must pull our customers toward us. Otherwise, we run the risk of pushing them all away. Richard Gorham is the founder and President of Leadership-Tools, Inc. His web site, http://www.leadership-tools.com is dedicated to providing free tools and resources for today's aspiring leaders. Offering high-quality tools in the areas of Business Planning, Leadership Development, Customer Service, Sales Management and Team Building.
Leadership is best defined by the quality of your thoughts, decisions and actions. It is also underpinned by the quality of the tools you use in your role. Be seen to bring true leadership to your organization and act with the authority that it brings to you.
MORE RESOURCES: ‘An egregious lack of leadership’: Cal Poly Humboldt CFA board calls for vote of no confidence on Tom Jackson amid occupation Eureka Times-Standard A Crisis of Campus Leadership National Review Letter From Student Urges Cal Poly Humboldt Leadership to Rethink Campus Closure and Facilitate Peaceful Protests Redheaded Blackbelt Bill seeks to speed Wake schools' hunt for university partnership with leadership academies WRAL News Ball State University's Dr. Jason Rivera Selected to AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance Class of 2024-25 Ball State University News Eckerd College alumna delivers message of perseverance at Diversity Leadership Scholars banquet Eckerd College News Excellence in Leadership Awards celebrates student leaders - The Source Washington University in St. Louis Brentsville District High School's Student Government Association hosts 10th annual leadership conference Prince William County Public Schools Investing in leadership: MarketBeat's commitment to employee development SiouxFalls.Business J.B. Hunt formalizes leadership changes at annual meeting | Arkansas Democrat Gazette Arkansas Online Youth Leadership Shelby County sees 32 students graduate - Shelby County Reporter Shelby County Reporter Elon Musk’s Leadership Gaps At Tesla Come To A Head CleanTechnica The Impossible Dilemma of Black Female Leadership: The Tragedy of Nobody Seeing Us Even When Everybody's ... Nonprofit Quarterly ScreenPoint Medical Leadership Transition: Pieter Kroese Confirmed as CEO USA - English - USA - English PR Newswire Daily Pennsylvanian leadership to speak as part of SAS "Living the Hard Promise" series The Daily Pennsylvanian SES Karen M. Davis Engages in Insightful Leadership Discussions at SUPSHIP Newport News American Military News Tia restructures leadership as it eyes clinic expansion Fierce healthcare J.B. Hunt formalizes leadership changes at annual meeting Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette How Empathy-Based Leadership Can Transform Your Team Entrepreneur Head of DLNR defends her leadership amid calls to resign, including from several lawmakers Hawaii News Now Staar Surgical Stock Climbs The Leadership Ladder With Jump To 84 RS Rating Investor's Business Daily Youth Leadership Citrus graduation held | Lifestyle | chronicleonline.com Citrus County Chronicle Idaho nonprofit grows again with new leadership Idaho Business Review Star Tribune promotes Kavita Kumar and adds Melissa Wind to leadership roles Editor And Publisher Magazine To help right the ship, Richmond councilmembers and city leadership talk about being more thoughtful to each other The Mercury News People Moves: Lockton Promotes 2 in Crisis Management Team, Announces Changes in Norway Leadership Insurance Journal Dairy Farmers of America Leadership Programs Inspire Young Dairy Farmers Lancaster Farming Profiles in 4-H Leadership | Farm Home Garden | huntingdondailynews.com huntingdondailynews.com Let's join the Louisiana Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee as they visit Landry Vineyards RFD-TV Catholic group buys Boeing’s sprawling former leadership campus KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis La Grande, Imbler FBLA students make the grade for National Leadership Conference La Grande Observer Gastonia youth leaders recognized by city council Gaston Gazette 'Conservative' John Powell Talks Leadership In Race For Magistrate Wheeling Intelligencer Empowering Young Leaders in Wildlife Conservation and Trade: Global Youth Network Launched in Singapore at the ... Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) In global leadership poll, Germany scores highest, Russia the lowest Voice of America - VOA News Lessen Expands Leadership Team and Appoints Kevin Owens as Executive Vice President, Multifamily Business Wire BioMarin axes 4 candidates, centers R&D around 3 assets Fierce Biotech Center notes change in executive leadership Bonner County Daily Bee Stefanik Statement on Columbia University's Failed Leadership | Press Releases Congresswoman Elise Stefanik AACN's New Web Resource Focuses on Preparing Nurses with Essential Well-Being and Leadership Competencies Business Wire 2023 Class of President’s Leadership Class graduation celebrated Southeastern Oklahoma State University ACRA encourages civic engagement among local business leaders The Aspen Times Leadership Pulaski County Application Deadline My Ozarks Online Susquehanna announces annual Leadership Awards – Susquehanna University Susquehanna University Area school districts seeking new leaders WCPO 9 Cincinnati Women for WineSense Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable Presents "Growing Brands, Teams and Impact" 8th ... wineindustryadvisor.com Attorney says 'accountability clock' is ticking for UI leadership Lewiston Morning Tribune Letter: Webb has leadership Grant County needs | Letters To Editor | bluemountaineagle.com Blue Mountain Eagle ECU Alumni Association names 2024 Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership Award recipients ECU News Services Lessons in leadership from 'committed sardine' - UND Today UND Blogs and E-Newsletters Supporting female leaders to advance cell and gene therapies European Pharmaceutical Review Youth vaping issue is leading topic at Archway Leadership Summit Moultrie Observer Topics - Charity leadership challenges for 2024 Charity Digital News |
RELATED ARTICLES
The SAMMER Test: Leading People To Get The Right Results At the Right Time In The Right Way As a leader, you do nothing more important than get results. But simply getting results can be easy. Three Growth Guidelines from Stephen Covey I have been looking for answers to what it takes to create a winning corporate culture in the midst of today's confusing economic indicators. If I rely solely on history or economic indicators, I won't find the answers. Beyond Authority: Debunking the Top 3 Leadership Myths Have you noticed that across the business world people are recognizing that we are fast outgrowing the thinking and language of hierarchy, but we're also struggling to create a new, more collaborative future? The challenge for all is to figure out how to operate in this emerging paradigm-the one that our own efforts are helping to shape.As I work with top leaders in organizations and then, independently, the staff they lead, I'm frequently struck by the gulf that occurs between the two in the early stages of change. Reinventing Failure: Designing Success I am fascinated by problems. I like to think of myself as a solution oriented individual. 3 Elements of Leadership Power! In an article discussing the need for innovative products and profitable service offerings, Vinutha V., points out that, "improvements are only the expected results, not the source of competitive advantage. Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 6, Deadlocked Discussions Although a meeting is a vehicle for resolving differences, it can break down when the participants become mired in a disagreement.Approach 1: Form a subcommitteeAsk for volunteers from the opposing viewpoints to form a subcommittee to resolve the issue. Leadership Skill Training Quality leadership is a positive asset that is needed in every organization. Observe any successful club, committee or team and you will find a capable leader in each of these organizations. What Kind of Leader Are You? There are literally millions of words written and spoken each week on enlightened leadership yet the fact remains that low morale, high stress and job dissatisfaction continue to be three of the most serious problems facing the workplace. We seem to be so effectively socialized into top down leadership that we find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to change our autocratic ways. Dont be Afraid to Lead! In most aspects of human activity, the pendulum of fashion swings back and forth between extremes, passing briefly through the point of balance on every swing.For a while, we were told leadership was all about setting clear objectives and holding people accountable. In Leadership, Dreams Are The Stuff That Great Results Are Made Of Leadership is motivational or it's stumbling in the dark. The best leaders don't order people to do a job, the best leaders motivate people to want to do the job. Leadership Training Seminar - What Makes A Great Leader? At one point or another, we have all been either a leader or a follower. While both roles are equally important, a leader plays an instrumental role in providing direction for his/her followers. Character Traits of Extraordinary Leaders When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to followyour leadership, they do it primarily because of one of two things: YourCharacter or your Skills. They want to know if you are the kind of personthey want to follow and if you have the skills to take them further. Ten Qualities Of A Great Leader - Plus 1 Great Leaders are optimists first and foremost. Their tendency is to interact according to Henry Ford's observation, "whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. Benefits of Leadership Skill Training DESCRIPTIONCMOE's Leadership Skill Training addresses a wide range of leadership development topics, based on the needs of the audience and scope of delivery. Leadership Skill Training for new leaders might be targeted to help them make the transition from individual contributor to effective leader. The Qualities of Skillful Leadership If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. The Goals of Leadership Coaching and Partnerships Webster's Dictionary describes a "partner" as an ally or an association built around common interests and goals.A partnership denotes a joint venture, a relationship built on equal status (rather than inequality). Leadership Lessons from Pope John Paul II "Heroes are rebels with a cause. Rebels because they challenge the traditional ways of thinking and refuse to follow the herd. Characteristics of a Good Leader It's interesting to hear the responses from executives when I ask them, "What are the characteristics of a good Leader?"If I ask that question in a large room of executives, or even upper level managers the answers will be all over the map, and many are conflicting.A couple of the usual answers are:A leader is someone that empowers those working for him to make their own decisions. Effective Leaders are (#3) Communicative LISTEN, WRITE, AND ARTICULATE EFFECTIVELY: Leadership positions require effective communication skills. Basic confidence in the art of information sharing is absolutely necessary for effective leadership. Partnership: Choose It or Lose It Charlotte decides to do good. Charlotte is a highly motivated worker. |
|
© 2016 Definition Of Leadership & Career Consulting Limited |