So how are you doing with your leadership?

Today more than ever there is a ton being written and taught on leadership.  When it comes to leading people, there are many things to consider.  There are however some things more important than others, and there is one thing that I believe will either make or break your leadership.  What is it?

Are you being mindful of this?

Effective leadership most definitely requires many things.  You can have vision, you can communicate clearly, you can be passionate, and yet still miss what may be the most important factor when it comes to leading…pace.  Pace is so important in leading people.

I don’t run unless I am being chased…by something REALLY BIG.  I do know though that in running you must pace yourself effectively or you will not make it far.  The same is true when leading people.  Push ahead to fast and you will burn people out, frustrate them, and lose them along the way.  Move too slowly and those you lead will doubt direction, get bored, frustrated, and you will lose them along the way.

When you are leading and you fail to pace things well, you will know it.  You will feel the frustration of those you are leading.  Likewise, you will also become frustrated with your leadership.  I have heard it said,

“He that thinketh he leadeth, and hath no one following, is only taking a walk.”

Leading is not easy.  If you are not mindful of those you lead, you will not be mindful of the pace at which you lead.  You leadership will be ineffective and you will go for a (not so pleasant) walk…alone.  Value and love your people.

When you look at your current leadership, how are you pacing things?  Do you find yourself pushing ahead too quickly?  Have you even considered the pace at which you lead?  What frustrations have you seen from not pacing your leadership well? Leave a comment below and share.

Photo credit: AndyArmstrong / Foter / CC BY-SA