Skill Assessment: Little or Big Legs?

• Going from the car to Wal-Mart with the two little ones - 4 and 2 (Blue Leader 1 and 2, respectively).


• I am striding easily.


• Blue Leader 1 is in a lope (define: jog or slow pace of running).


• Blue Leader 2 is flat out running.

As a leader, are you aware of how your pace is influencing those around you? Your knowledge, ambition, natural talent and experience has helped you reach a leadership position. Don't let those advantages push down those you are called to lift up.

It was much harder for little Blue Leader 2 to get from the car to the door. However, her struggle had nothing to do with her - it had to do with her in relation to her older sibling and her dad. To help her in her walk, we had to...

1. Be sensitive to her needs


2. Recognize that just because we could do it easily didn't mean she could


3. Adjust our behavior accordingly

Are you doing the same for those around you? Being a leader doesn't always mean setting the pace for people. Sometimes it means adjusting your pace to give those learning from you space and time to catch up.

Processing Questions for PLI Curriculum Teachers/Trainers:

1. Recall a time when you felt inadequate because someone around you was much better at something than you were. How did that make you feel?

2. What is the difference between setting an example of leadership and setting the pace of leadership?

3. What are some practices that you could implement into your leadership role to ensure that the people following you are not getting left behind?

4. Why is it important that we uplift those we lead, rather than make them feel left behind?

5. What are the benefits of considering the skills and talents of all of those around you?

6. How could you encourage someone to “quicken their pace” in a gentle and humble way?