Momentum is such an interesting topic because it is so intangible, yet unmistakable. Sometimes I think describing momentum is a little like trying to describe to a teenager what being in love feels like. When you are unsure whether or not you are in love, you probably are not. The same is true for momentum…if you are unsure whether or not you have it, you probably do not have it!
John Maxwell has written so much on this topic, because momentum is something that all leaders desire. In fact, John’s chapter on The Law of the Big Mo from “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” might be one of the best things a leader can read to understand momentum.
Team growth will lead to New Momentum, and the benefits of momentum are 3 things all leaders desire:
- Energy – Momentum is like the wind at your back, it is the force of the river current alongside your boat. When you experience momentum you have access to horsepower that was previously unavailable.
- Margin – The process of growing saps up an available margin. The growth process stretches us to a place where we are different in the end. When momentum is present we find fresh margin. The nature of your leadership environment might dictate whether that margin is emotional, mental, financial or time.
- Possibilities – Momentum opens up new doors of possibility. The scientific discoveries around jet propulsion showed where it was possible to create momentum behind a rocket ship. That momentum created the possibility of traveling to the moon…something that sounds insane, until you understand the power of momentum. With momentum possibilities are endless.
For leaders, the beauty of momentum helps complete the cycle. Momentum is not an end to itself – because leaders view momentum as the catalyst for the next stage of growth. Momentum allows leaders to consider “what could be” which is an invitation to go and get a New Dream.
Cory Lebovitz 