SelfHelpInfoNow.com


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.


MORE RESOURCES:

Alexi Giannoulias Meets With Obama, Talks Age, Weight Loss
Huffington Post (blog)
From Sneed's column: Quoth Alexi: "We didn't talk about basketball, but he commented on my weight loss -- and thought I'd lost a lot. ...

and more »


CW eyeing dance, weight-loss competition series
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The CW is developing two competition series using popular unscripted subject matter: dancing and weight loss. ...
Report: The CW developing 'One Mass Dance, ''Shed to Wed' showsReality TV World
CW Developing Reality Competition Shows THRTelevision Week (blog)

all 7 news articles »


Fast walking, jogging don't prevent increased bone turnover during weight loss
Sify
During weight loss, bones are being remodelled – breaking down old bone and forming new bone – at an accelerated rate. As a result, bone density is reduced, ...

and more »


Feds raid office of doctor suspected in illicit weight-loss treatment
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Referring to himself as a "Weight-Loss Doctor," the licensed naturopathic doctor is alleged to have offered to sell the drugs through a pair of Web sites, ...

and more »


Weight Loss Surgery News – March 12, 2010
Weight Loss Surgery Channel
A low-carb diet may offer quick results, but a new study suggests that a low-fat diet may be best for long-term weight loss and maintaining a healthy ...



Local residents make their own 'Biggest Loser' weight-loss challenge
Muncie Star Press
Both are winning their weight-loss challenges. Whomever loses the most weight by percentage, will take home a few hundred bucks in both challenges. ...



Palm Beach Post

Fire Rescue Vs. Sheriff's Office Weight-Loss Results In
WPBF West Palm Beach
The results of a month-long weight-loss competition between Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office are in. ...
Who's the biggest loser? Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue wins titlePalm Beach Post
Sheriff's office, Fire-Rescue throw their weight behind 'Biggest Loser' challengePalm Beach Post

all 6 news articles »


Free Staff Training for Weight Loss Professionals Offered Online
PR Web (press release)
Downloadable training transcript features free tools to help weight loss center staff develop the art of communicating with dieters via telephone. ...



Eggs can Make Weight Loss Easier!
About.com: Health
Researchers at Louisiana State University found people who ate two eggs each morning lost 65% more weight than those who ate a bagel breakfast with the same ...



Examiner.com

Miracle HCG weight loss doctor's office raided under suspicion of illegal ...
Examiner.com
Federal and state investigators raided the office of a weight loss doctor who prescribes HCG to patients seeking to lose weight. Various drugs and patient ...


Google News



Home | Blog | Improvement | Motivation | Health & Fitness | Relationships | Family | Parenting | Women Issues | Legal Matters
Leadership Home | Site Map
Copywrite © 2006     www.SelfHelpInfoNow.com     All rights reserved.