I was at the park this weekend and was watching a man being walked by his dog. 

I laughed because I’ve been there… I’ve been that guy.  I couldn’t control my own pet.  The only power it seems I had was dictating when the walk would take place… beyond that, the dog was in control.  I largely became just a weight to my dog, overhead for her to deal with as she tried to make the most out of the situation.

But why did it have to be so difficult?  Why so stressful?  Why so unpleasant?

Well, it was simply because I hadn’t taken the time to discipline my dog and harness her enegy for something good…. something we both could enjoy.

It seems to me this is a common issue with leaders too.

Sometimes we are fortunate to work with disciplined and effective people.  Those people have learned how to navigate in a way that is beneficial for their managers.  They know what is safe and when to ask for permission.  In other words, someone spent time teaching them.  Whether it was through rewards, praise, or an iron fist… they learned attributes that have helped them to succeed.

Leaders need to continue nurturing their people.  They need to establish boundaries and reward good behaviors.  They need to invest time to train their teams what is expected of them.  They need to lead.

What about you?  Are you walking your dog or is your dog walking you?