This is a commonly shared frustration. It’s been with us since the invention of the auto, but it’s gotten worse because of mobile access to social media.
It frustrates me when people are unconscientious, unfocused, and unaware, particularly if they are positioned such that their lack of focus affects other people. For instance, if I’m beside you at a traffic light and you don’t move when the light turns green, no problem, I’ll drive on. But when you’re in the front of the line and don’t move when the light turns green, it adversely affects everyone behind you because we can’t move until you move.
Let’s apply this “I can’t move until you move” dilemma to leaders of organizations. This problem occurs when a leader (the one out front) is passive or indecisive. Momentum stalls because the leader won’t take his foot off the brake. For a while, the organization may continue to survive—treading water based on previous initiatives and current operational systems—but there’s no forward movement so eventually the group will be stymied.
Leaders, that’s why you must initiate. Move your foot from the brake to the accelerator. Your followers will not go around you and probably not even honk because they want to be compliant, loyal followers. So it’s up to you to begin.
Equally damaging is for a leader to press the accelerator before he or she knows the right direction in which to go. This produces unfocused and wasted activity. The solution is for the leader to have clear and compelling vision, communicate well, and then get going.
Remember, leaders: your followers won’t move until you move. So move
Travel with Friends – 2025
Next years’ Travel with Friends trip will be incredible. The destination is on most people’s bucket list. On October 10 I’ll announce the details of the trip and provide a brochure.
You have captured a common frustration. Ticks me off.
Then, I find myself doing it – rarely but often enough to realize I’m a hypocrite for getting TOO ticked off. My internal rationalization for my faux pas is: the system (most government and corporate nonsense) has made my life so burdened by regulations and complete idiotic compliance requirements that I have to use every nano-second of my time to get it all in. Especially in the digital age when we can send the Library of Congress around the world 20 times in a second, this is the REAL frustration that wears on me. I have a million passwords (most of which I am told are not secure enough) so there is no way I can remember them. I have to look them up. That takes time. But, it’s only a few seconds, they say. My business software that the lender requires me to use (Meridian Link) is insanely inept and getting worse as they charge more and tell us they are improving it. “Use this work-around” my manager says, “it only takes a few seconds.” People who don’t do that work for me always say “it only takes a few seconds.” My common retort is “well since it only takes a few seconds, YOU do it.” Of course, they won’t and the don’t.
It’s corporatitis. A deadly infection of the mind and, unfortunately, of the soul as well. Your admonition is timely and wise. Forgive me for my pessimism. The people who really need to heed your advice, are not reading this. They will never read this. They will collect their pay and float to their paradise under their golden parachutes.
I wish there was another way. But, starting my own enterprise seems to be the only option.
Thanks for the great article.
Noel, thanks for taking the time to respond.
Your frustrations are understandable. It’s become so hard just to live a normal life at a normal pace. If you start your own business, what would it be?
Don