The Leadership Balancing Act
Aug 17, 2025
Does this seem familiar to you? You’ve set the vision, you’ve laid out the plan, and your team is… moving. Just not quite fast enough. Or in quite the right direction.
Now comes the hard part—do you push them harder, pull them forward, or wait it out?
Get it wrong and you risk frustration, burnout, or missed opportunities. Get it right and you unlock your team’s true potential.
Later this week I’ll attend my 14th International Maxwell Leadership Conference, so I sought out a little wisdom from my mentor, New York Times bestselling author John Maxwell, to help with today’s blog. He often reminds me that leadership has a rhythm—and that rhythm requires three things: motivating, encouraging, and waiting. The art of leadership is knowing which one your team needs at that moment.
1. When to Push
There are moments when your role as leader is to light the fire and raise the bar.
Steve Jobs said, “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” Pushing is about refusing to let people settle for “good enough.”
John Maxwell taught me that when you push people, you make pioneers out of them. You’re challenging them to step into territory they didn’t know they could conquer.
Push when:
- Time is critical and the window of opportunity is closing.
- The team has grown comfortable—and a little too safe.
- They have the talent but aren’t using it to full capacity.
Advice: Before you push, make the “why” irresistible. Instead of, “We need this by Friday,” try, “If we deliver by Friday, we beat our competitor to market and own the conversation.” Urgency + purpose = momentum.
When I’m pushing, I’m telling. It’s about giving clear direction with conviction.
2. When to Pull
Pulling is about inspiration. It’s not shoving from behind—it’s drawing out what’s already inside of your people.
Maxwell says, “People do what people see.” If you want your team to step into something bold, you go first.
He also taught me that pulling helps people grow. It’s less about commands and more about questions, curiosity, and guidance. When I’m pulling, I’m asking. I’m inviting them to rise higher by believing in what’s already within them.
Pull when:
- You’re navigating change that needs trust and buy-in.
- The team is unsure they can pull it off.
- Creativity and vision matter more than compliance.
Advice: Model the mindset and behaviors you want. Share stories that spark imagination. Celebrate early wins loudly and publicly. When your team sees you rowing with purpose, they’ll match your rhythm.
3. When to Be Patient
Patience is not passivity. It’s strategic restraint. In my opinion this is the MOST DIFFICULT. I have to be honest; patience is NOT MY GREATEST STRENGTH.
Harvard Business Review warns, “Over leading can be as harmful as underleading.” Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is give your team the space to wrestle with a challenge, make the decisions, and own the results.
Maxwell’s wisdom reminds me that patience allows the push and pull to take root. Growth isn’t instant. It requires space, time, and trust.
Be patient when:
- The team is in the middle of a learning curve.
- You’ve set clear expectations and provided resources.
- Pushing now would crush confidence instead of building it.
Advice: Don’t vanish—check in with curiosity instead of control. Ask, “What’s your next step?” or “Where’s the biggest challenge right now?” so they know you’re present without hovering.
The Leadership Rhythm Checklist
When you’re deciding whether to push, pull, or wait, ask yourself these three questions:
- Do they already have the ability, but need urgency?
If yes, it’s time to push. (Give clear direction and raise the bar.) - Do they have potential inside them that needs drawing out?
If yes, it’s time to pull. (Ask questions, inspire, and model the way.) - Do they need space and time to grow into the challenge?
If yes, it’s time to wait. (Step back with patience while staying available.)
The True Test of Leadership
Leadership is about sensing the rhythm: when to motivate, when to encourage, and when to wait. Some days you push and make pioneers. Other days you pull and bring out what’s already inside. And often, you simply step back with patience, allowing your people to grow into their potential.
Master that rhythm, and you won’t just build followers, you’ll multiply leaders. That’s where the true legacy of leadership lives.