The Push Pull Method

Do you want to be a better leader?

Here is a principle I use. While this may or may not be new and original to you; I think it will make an impact on your management / leadership style if you put in into practice.

The Push; is a challenge. It is the challenge you issue to those under you to do more, be better, and try harder. It is the write up or warning when they are late, under performing, or doing anything else behaviorally that you are pushing against. While this is a valuable and necessary part of leadership, it is vitally important to keep in mind this action also pushes the person away from you and thereby your organization or movement.

The Pull is an invitation. The pull is those things you do and say that remind the person in question you want them there at your organization. The pull is an invitation to be closer to you and to the organization and it is crucial for it to be more obvious and forceful than the push.

In short, think of it like this; The more you push (correct/challenge) the more you are driving that person away from you and your organization. The more you pull (affirm/invite) the closer you are bringing them. The math: Your pull needs to be greater than your push.

It is a well known business fact that performance is directly linked to happiness/morale. People will work harder for a person when they feel they are being invested in and cared for. Those feelings happen through pull/invitation. "I want you to be here. I want to invest in you. I am inviting you inside. I am affirming the good things."

If you just have to mention when your employee is 2 minutes late, you had better mention when they are 2 minutes early the next day! You want to pull your followers in, not push them away.

When have your experienced this concept? Either from the stand point of a leader or follower?