Setting the pace
Knowing when to light the fire
Head out with me on the bike and you’ll find that I love to be on the front. I’ll sit up there all day long if you let me.
“Don’t you get tired of pulling me along?” is a common question.
The answer is no. I thrive with the diesel engine, keep it moving attitude, and it has pervaded into areas other than just on the bike.
Class project? I want to help pull everyone along.
A meeting? I am early and setting things up if I can.
I always was keen on leading the swim lane too. In fact, the harbinger of falling out of love with swimming was when I actively avoided leading the lane in my last few years of college.
I consider this “setting the pace”. Pace is important. With great pace, things stay on track and there is momentum. If I am at the helm of a group, this characteristic is powerful. It impels the group to work with intent.
But a high pace comes at a cost.
It's born out of impatience.
It’s not always sustainable for myself or for others.
It can be viewed as domineering.
Moreover, great things often arise when a process has been given time to unfold.
I am coming around on the implications of pace. It is a tool and is symbolic of a hammer. You wouldn’t want to use the hammer for every job, but it’s damn effective when you do.
Perhaps next time I am “on the front” I’ll examine whether pace is needed and let off the gas of the diesel engine a bit. After all, gas is expensive.
Just thought about this at our 🏊🏽 session this morning. A good lead is crucial to make sure the pace is appropriate across the lane - enough to push but not so hard that everyone (a) hates you! (b) the lane gets out of sync. It’s a skill!
Chadd Wright - former Navy Seal and endurance athlete extraordinaire, did say though, that he survived Seals training as, especially, at the beginning, he always chose to stay in the middle of the runs and like, not too far ahead to set the pace and expectations, and not too far behind to strike the ire of the instructors.
His goal was always to survive. Probably is a time and a place to just be in the pack, rather than lead.