Clint Eastwood once said Sometimes, if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.
We all encounter situations, particularly in team settings, where everyone is waiting for the other person to make the first move.
“Why should I commit to anything and take on more work?” or “Why should I speak up and expose myself?” is the thinking that plays on everyone’s mind.
Here’s the thing. Sometimes when everyone is looking to the other person to make the first move, you need to step up to be the one ready to drive the change. The benefits of doing so far outweigh the possible downsides.
- One, you earn the respect and gratitude of those around you because you spared them the ordeal of having to make the first move. They may not acknowledge this, but they KNOW it.
- Two, you naturally assume the mantle of being a leader because you have taken the lead. You do this enough times, and everybody starts acknowledging your leadership.
- Three, you fast-track your experience because you get to do something that others are fighting shy of.
- Four, if something goes wrong, you get the benefit of the doubt-because you dared to be the first mover.
So, the next time you encounter a situation where everyone is waiting for someone else to make the first move, be the person to make that first move. The one who takes the first step always moves forward, ahead of others.