Have you ever felt like you’re moving backward when you desperately want to move forward? Like your team is regressing instead of progressing? You’re not alone.
But what if that tension, that backward motion, is exactly what you need to gain the power and precision to leap ahead?
Think of a bow and arrow. The arrow doesn’t fly forward unless the string is pulled back first. And the more tension you apply, the farther and faster the arrow goes.
The same is often true in life and leadership. That feeling of resistance or regression may not be a step in the wrong direction — it could be the necessary tension that gives your next move real power.
Sometimes, we mistake resistance for failure. But resistance builds muscle. It invites reflection. It opens doors to opportunity. That backward pull — that at times feels uncomfortable — may just be the launchpad your team needs.
We don’t always recognize that progress and tension are deeply intertwined. When a team feels stalled or a plan gets derailed, the instinct might be to push harder — or worse, to give up. But often, the most powerful move is to pause and reframe what’s happening.
What if this tension is asking you to pay closer attention? What if it’s building your capacity to act with greater intention, not just momentum? Maybe your team is working through hard conversations, reevaluating values, or wrestling with tough feedback. That isn’t regression — it’s alignment. It’s preparation.
As a leader, your job isn’t just to charge ahead. It’s to read the energy. To sense when the pullback is giving your people time to reflect, learn, or coalesce around a shared purpose. That kind of pause? That’s powerful. Because when the release comes, it’s not random — it’s focused. It’s strong. It’s well-aimed.
So the next time it feels like your team or your life is going in reverse, pause. Ask yourself: What is this resistance building in me? How might this tension be setting us up for greater clarity, momentum, or impact?
In leadership, as in archery, it’s not just about direction. It’s about understanding the mechanics of motion. And sometimes, going back is the only way to truly go forward.
Or in the immortal words of Doc Hudson from the movie Cars (and I paraphrase), “Sometimes you have to go left to go right.”
Photo by Abby Tait on Unsplash
