The Leadership Vacuum- Creating Draft

In racing the the follower car purposely travels close behind the "lead" car, as this creates an area of low pressure for the follower car.  The effect of this is that the follower car saves energy while traveling as fast as the lead car. The follower car at some point can actually use this "draft" or suction (hence the vacuum reference) to slingshot ahead of the lead car at some point.  When teams race they use this to their advantage to set each other up to win.

As the leader of your company or work group you have the opportunity to create this "draft" for those who follow you.  In companies and their work groups you create this draft  by you being just ahead of them.  "Just ahead" means one step ahead.  While you may see the big picture, you still only take that journey one step at a time. If you do this deliberately, people who report to you will feel the "draft" you're creating for them, and will see the benefit of following you. And they will line-up and join what you're doing, eagerly.  Their need to exert unnecessary energy will be decreased as they benefit from following you. They will feel this and they will follow.  And if you are successful at winning the race, they will follow again, and again.  And there will be some  followers who will, at a point in time, use the "draft" your create to slingshot ahead of you and win their own race. This is called succssion....and is also a good thing, if you see it that way. Of course the timing is something the team should agree on, out of respoect for the team and the cause and the leader.

The world needs more great companies. Great Leaders are the key. 

Jeff Pelletier
www.becomingggreat.com
www.Godsworkinprogress.net
www.facebook.com/righteousenterprise