Mike 
It was a blustery day in March many years ago, and my group of runners had just finished our workout. A younger group was still on the track. They were running three laps (1200 meters) for time. As they finished the second lap, one of the guys in the group sprawled onto the track for no apparent reason. In between gasps, he said, “Coach, the headwinds got me.”
It was very windy, and it’s not any fun to run into the wind, but I wasn’t particularly sympathetic to his complaint. You see, a track is an oval, which means the wind blows at your back just as much as it does in your face. His was more a problem of pacing and planning than of an unfair obstacle that appeared from nowhere.
If you’ve not experienced headwinds as a leader, you’re either very early in your journey or you’re incredibly lucky. Every leader will eventually have seasons when it feels like they can’t take a step forward without encountering resistance of one kind or another. And just like that runner many years ago, you may be able to avoid sprawling to the ground with a little better pacing and planning.
Three lessons from runners can help leaders deal with headwinds:
- Pay close attention to conditions before you start your “race.” If you’re aware of the wind, then you know to keep some energy in reserve. A leader whose tank is on empty in good times won’t have the needed margin when problems arise.
- Take advantage of the times when the wind is at your back. You know that it won’t last forever. It may be just the moment to press ahead on a major initiative, or it may be your opportunity to relax and catch your breath.
- You don’t have to face the headwinds on your own. In a group of runners, some can tuck in behind and let the person in front break the wind. If they’re teammates, they can take turns. Every leader needs to have teammates who will help break the wind.
