What’s Wrong with Chasing?

What are you chasing? Why are you chasing it? 

Remember being chased or chasing someone on the playground? Maybe you had a secret crush that developed into “boys chase the girls” at recess?  There was a physiologic thrill involved in the chase. However, the more time passed, the thrill on both parties eventually grew into exhaustion or boredom. It wasn’t about the catching, it was about the being chased. When the chase was over, the thrill was over. This explains why so many relationships, goals, and objectives get unceremoniously dumped and die. Chasing is the impulsive, immediate response to achieving a goal or an objective. 

1. The Thrill of the Chase

Chasing is like the untrained dog that lies dormant until a squirrel, a shadow or even his tail catches its attention. Squirrel……he’s gone! The dog springs into action–the thrill of the chase! That is until he catches what he was chasing or like his tail he can never fully grasp–the thrill is over. When you find yourself exhausted or bored, it’s often because you’ve been un-strategically chasing something.

2. The Will of the Pursuit

Pursuit is different. Pursuit is the strategic and enduring approach to apprehending your goal. Pursuit is more about measurement than movement. Restless, impatient leaders chase, because they need movement. But movement doesn’t always mean growth or apprehension. It often merely means activity. And many leaders are “action addicts.”

Pursuit is more a matter of the will, than a physiological need for stimulation. When a leader’s will is set, pursuit is not a question of time, but of outcome. Pursuit is steadfast, chasing is fickle.

Consider your organization, are you chasing or pursuing?

3. Don’t Become an “Action Addict” 

Leaders that are “action addicts” require constant activity in their organization. Their personal impatience impedes the systemic growth of the organization. A leader that requires stimulation by the  activity of the organization will unknowingly produce an unstable environment. Followers like thrills, but demand stability.

Parents who are action addicts will subject their children to any number of activities to keep them “involved” or “engaged.” Bosses who are action addicts will subject their employees to any number of new initiatives, but will never see the prior initiative through. Action addicts are impatient and demanding.

You chase fantasies, but pursue goals. You chase ghosts, but pursue people.