Are you leading from your position?

Last week in one of my spin classes (shocker, I know), the instructor said something that resonated with me in that room, at home and at work. If you've taken a spin class, or any group fitness class for that matter before, you know that the instructor positions themselves at the front of the room and faces the class providing instruction and mirroring what each participant should be doing. From this viewpoint they can push you, see when you're giving your maximum effort, and push you when it looks like you need the help. They can point out form opportunities and set the pace for the class. From this position, the instructor can see everyone in the class and keep a pulse on the beat of the class.

In spin, throughout class, the instructor will also often leave the podium and walk around the room providing individual coaching. At these times, their eyes are not on the entire class, but focused on several individuals at a time. There is no one person at that time that is responsible for setting the pace and tone or keeping the class moving as one- it is up to the group to keep their stride.

In one class I was in last week when this occcured the instructor called out the "front row" to lead the class in his absence from the podium, and for the rest of the class to keep an eye on us and follow our lead- that "just because {he} was not up on the podium did not mean we could slack off or take our foot off the gas." He followed it up with this question: "in other areas of your life when your boss, friends, family are not watching and holding you accountable to a goal, are you holding yourself accountable? Are you aligning yourself with the other leaders in the room, or are you taking a break from what you need to be doing and coasting?"

It hit me as it relates to my sales world first. It is so easy to "put on a show" or "do the hard/right things" when a leader is with you, watching your steps on a ride along, or in a 1:1; it's easy to say all of the right things in front of your peers on a team meeting- but what happens when no one is watching? Do you still do all of the things you should be doing? Are you pushing yourself each day, or are you going through the motions, putting in the minimum and then putting on a show when a leader is around? Are you consistent in your effort? Or do you sprint in spurts and then quit when it gets hard? Consistency is key- and in spin, in sales, in relationships in your personal life, doing the right thing, often the hardest things - CONSISTENTLY- regardless of who is watching- is necessary to see long-term success.

It doesn't matter what position you're in; lead from it, and you will succeed- and, just maybe, you'll bring someone else up that is around you, watching you, at the same time.