Push vs. Pull Leadership: How to Know When It’s Time to Let Go
Every school year begins with energy. August feels fresh. The building is buzzing, the bulletin boards are bright, and staff are hopeful about a new start. By early September, routines are in place and new initiatives are underway.
And then, right on schedule, the dip comes.
Late September into October is when reality hits. Student behavior spikes, staff morale dips, and the data from the first round of assessments raises hard questions. The shine of the new year wears off, and leaders find themselves in the thick of it, pushing hard to maintain momentum while dragging adults who are already sliding into complacency.
This is where the difference between push and pull becomes not just a leadership strategy, but a survival skill.
The Push: Productive Pressure That Builds Capacity
Push is the healthy, necessary part of leadership. It’s the coaching, the nudging, and the challenging that grow people beyond their comfort zones.
Push looks like:
- Guiding a teacher to refine their instruction after the first tough round of walkthroughs.
- Challenging a grade-level team to go deeper into the data instead of making excuses.
- Holding firm on expectations, even when staff would prefer to coast.
Push doesn’t always feel good, but it’s essential. Growth requires discomfort. In this dip season, pushing your people keeps them connected to the vision instead of falling into survival mode.
The Pull: Dragging Resistance Through the Dip
Pull, on the other hand, is leadership at its heaviest.
