FOLLOW THE LEADERmomentum is a great friend and ally to a leader, let’s take a moment to
briefly look at this crucial leadership phenomena.
Leadership is like pushing a heavy car up a hill. In the early stages,
inertia, immobility, and friction work against your attempts to “get things
rolling.” There is a lot of “dead weight” that is just “sitting there.” A lot
of resources and potential are just standing still – not interested in going
anywhere! Inertia has overcome initiative! In order to “get things moving,”
there will have to be a lot of initial effort. A leader understands that it is
impossible to get things off “dead center” effortlessly. There is going to
have to be some sweating involved! Inertia is never overcome easily. For a
period of time it is very hard work – and slow going. Often the progress
seems to be measured only by sweaty inches and bloody centimeters! At
times, all forward motion is stopped. There are times in leadership when
all you can do is to stand still...tread water...kick things out of gear...
idle in neutral. Every leader faces times when he has to stay in a “holding
pattern” – like an airplane circling waiting to land. Sometimes even gains
and growth are lost. During these times of “standing still” or “uphill
battles,” there is a lot of groaning with little glory! With persistence,
the crest of the leadership hill is finally crossed – and then the law of
momentum gradually takes over. More and more speed is picked up to the
degree that it takes less and less time to cover distances. Gravity begins
to work for you rather than against you. The wind is now at your back
rather than in your face! The currents of life are flowing in your favor –
rather than an undercurrent of opposition. Just as it is far easier to steer
a moving vehicle than one standing still, it is easier to give direction to
a life and leadership that has built up momentum. There are even times
that you can relax more and just “coast down the hill!”
There is also a danger here. Momentum can get out of control! If momentum
is not managed, it can become dangerous and destructive – just like a
coasting vehicle down a curvy mountainous road! More and more speed
is picked up until the “growth curves” become dangerous and leadership-
threatening! During these times of quick growth, many leaders have
“crashed and burned!” They could not – or would not – manage their
momentum!
History and contemporary events warn us through the example of many
leaders that were destroyed because too much momentum was built up too