Categories
Learn to Let Go
Do you remember helping a child or a friend learn to ride a bike? You were running alongside them, making sure they stayed balanced and upright while you encouraged them to concentrate on pedaling and steering straight. Pretty soon, you let go of the bike, and they were riding that bike by themselves—often not even realizing you were no longer holding them up.
Whenever you are in a Mentor/Leader role, think of this example. If you never truly let go of the bike, your Mentees will never have the confidence that they can ride that bike without you holding them up. You will get really tired and frustrated doing all that running and holding on, eventually unable to even find the energy to continue encouraging them to pedal and steer to keep their own balance. And even worse, they will never truly know what it feels like to ride that bike on their own—to have your trust even when you are no longer running alongside them.
Being an effective Mentor/Leader is teaching and encouraging others, and then letting go so that you both have the satisfaction of your Mentee’s individual success. Are you that Mentor/Leader who can actually let go? Or are you always running beside your people to make sure they don’t lose their balance?