Teamwork Tuesdays: Ron Clark — Who’s Moving the Bus?

In his book, Move Your Bus, Ron Clark uses a simple metaphor to describe the different ways people show up on a team: Runners, Joggers, Walkers, Riders, and Drivers.

• Runners are your all-stars who bring energy, take initiative, and consistently push the team forward. They don’t wait to be told what needs to be done — they see it, act, and go above and beyond.

• Joggers are dependable. They contribute, do their jobs well, and keep a steady pace. They may not always lead the charge, but they help keep the bus moving.

• Walkers do what is expected but rarely go beyond it. They need more direction, encouragement, or accountability to increase their impact.

• Riders are passengers. They benefit from the team’s success without contributing much to it. They may be along for the ride, but they aren’t helping move the bus.

• And then there are Drivers — the MVPs responsible for steering the bus. They create the vision, set the direction, and help everyone understand where the team is going.

Every team needs Drivers, but great teams also need Runners, Joggers, and everyone willing to move forward.

As a team member, you don’t have to be the Driver to make a difference. Just make sure you’re helping move the bus forward.

As a leader or coach, look at your team. Who is who, and how can you put the right people in the right seats?