Just because we end up in a different location than where we started doesn’t mean that we had anything to do with the result. True, treading water keeps our noses above water, and allows us to survive, but the results are a function of the current instead of our intentional actions.

In the car business, as well as most other industries, people have mistaken treading water for swimming. That is why when the end of month rolls around they create commentaries (a.k.a. excuses) for why they ended up in a different place than where they said they would 30 days prior.

Leaders swim [take action] and teach their teams to swim, regardless of what the current is doing. When the current is going the right direction the best teams take advantage of it; when it is going the wrong direction they swim against it and give it their best. In this way they guarantee better results than just drifting and more often get to where they intendedto go, or further.

Herb Mast is Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.