Push or Pull? The Secret To Leading People

I attended a networking event this evening and ran into a great friend there. As we observed the crowds at the networking event it stimulated a conversation between the two of us about people and leadership.


If you have not heard the story of the blue crabs I will give you a quick recap. When you go fishing for blue crabs and you bring a bucket you have to bring a lid for the first crab. The reason is, they will attempt to crawl out of the bucket and will most likely succeed. Once you catch a second crab, you no longer have to keep the crab covered because the other crabs in the bucket will keep each other from crawling out.


I continued to ask him, why when you try to help people out of the bucket do they resist so heavily? He put his hand out and asked me to put my hand out. I began pushing on my hand and I immediately, out of instinct, pushed right back. He then put his hand out again, face up. I put my hand out, he grabbed it and began to walk away. I immediately began to follow. Very similar action but two completely different reactions.


When you lead people you cannot force them to follow, but you can lead by example and they will, in turn, follow you.

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