The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang

Mary Kay Ash

As the leader (of the organisation, team or group) you are the pace setter. You are the one that others take their lead from. Are you currently on slo mo, fast forward or paused?

Cosmetics legend Mary Kay Ash, founder of the Mary Kay brand, said “the speed of the leader is the speed of the gang”. The point she was making was that the leader sets the tone for the organisation. They are the one that must drive others towards the goals and ultimately the vision of the organisation.

Leaders should be bold, decisive and have a sense of urgency, but I want to sound a warning about speed. Not having a vision or a plan for how to get there can make some appear to be going fast but all they are really doing is behaving chaotically and randomly. This should not be mistaken for determined progress towards a clear, shared vision.

Leaders should be aware that their team members are observing their speed, their direction and their determination.