A Lesson in Leadership

Yesterday, as I was teaching my oldest son how to steer our lawn tractor, the lesson became a lesson in leadership. He showed a very intense and passionate joy for steering. He would sharply turn left. He would sharply turn right. It was very evident he enjoyed controlling the tractor. My advice to him was to let the tractor do the work. It was built to pull wagons and cut grass. "Driving the tractor would become easier if you allowed it to do its job." And then BAM!, like a light being turned on it hit me.

Some leaders try too hard to control the people they are leading. Like my son steering, leaders, often with good intentions, try to steer people too hard left or too hard right. Leadership becomes easier, if we allow the people we are leading to do what they have been built to do. Leadership is not about control. It is about impacting people in a positive way. Like steering a tractor, leadership is about influencing people in the right direction.