Step back in time with me to the middle of World War II. It is a cold fall afternoon with brown leaves falling gently from the trees. All around there is a buzz of conversation among the make shift camp. Next to one of the campfires is a group of soldiers eating and laughing. Further down the center of the group is a slightly larger tent. You have been summoned by the Allied Supreme Commander, Dwight Eisenhower. It is time for another leadership lesson. After all, if your soldiers are going to follow you into battle putting their lives on the line for each other and for the cause, you have to be an amazing leader. Eisenhower knew this.

Other generals have gathered around. He greets each one as they arrive. Once everyone has assembled, he begins. He starts by placing a long chain onto a pile in the middle of the table. Then turns to his men who have quieted down and are waiting in expectation.

He speaks in his loud confident commander voice, If I push the chain, which way will it go?

The Generals offer several answers. Each pointing in various directions.

Eisenhower speaks again, the truth is we don’t really know. If we push our people, we won’t really know what direction they will go or how they will react. What we do know is that if we pick up one side of the chain, (he starts walking around) the chain will follow us. So too will your people. When you lead by pulling them, by fueling their desire to follow you, your men will follow you wherever you go.

Leadership: is the art of getting someone else to do the things you want them to do because he wants to do it.

~Dwight Eisenhour

What an excellent illustration of the power of leading by example, by pulling people along because we motivate them to succeed, we empower them to do their best, we feed their drive for excellence, and we care about them and their future. This is something exceptional leaders know.