Let’s be real — pushing people rarely works.
Sure, you might get short-term compliance, but that’s not leadership. That’s pressure.
And pressure without connection burns people out… and sends them packing.
If you’re tired of having to “babysit” your team or constantly re-recruit the same people over and over again, I’ve got good news: There’s a better way.
Over the past two decades of building high-performing sales teams, leading thousands of reps across direct sales, door-to-door, and business-to-business environments, I discovered a simple 4-part model that changes everything. It’s the exact system I teach in my Masterclass and workshops, and I’ve seen it transform frustrated managers into respected, influential leaders who build teams that stay and perform.
I call it:
ALIGN. LIFT. CHALLENGE. GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Here’s a short video where I walk you through all four steps with real-life examples:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enBGyNqnFCY
1. ALIGN: “Before I say ‘follow me,’ I find you.”
Leadership influence begins with connection.
Not hype. Not hustle. Alignment.
This is where most leaders miss it. They get so focused on where they’re trying to take their team, they forget to meet people where they’re at.
Alignment is about intentionally finding the people you lead — emotionally, mentally, and situationally — before asking them to follow.
“Before I say follow me… I find you.”
And the fastest, most effective way to align with someone? You already know it.
You listen.
You ask questions. You pay attention. You figure out what matters to them before trying to push what matters to you.
Pro Tip:
Next time you’re about to give directions, pause and ask:
“Where is this person actually coming from right now?”
The more aligned you are with their current reality, the more likely they’ll trust you to help them step into their next one.
2. LIFT: “Follow the Platinum Rule.”
Once alignment is in place, the next move is LIFT.
This is where you build belief. It’s where people start to feel like, “I matter here.”
But here’s the key: Lifting someone doesn’t mean giving a generic pep talk or handing out empty praise. It’s intentional encouragement — the kind that’s meaningful to them.
I invite you to lead with what I call The Platinum Rule:
“Do unto others as they would have done unto them.”
It’s not about how you like to be lifted. It’s about discovering what makes them feel appreciated and seen — and then doing that.
- Call out the specific areas where they shine.
- Acknowledge their growth.
- Give them a chance to share their wins with the team.
The right lift at the right time can unlock momentum that lasts for weeks.
Leadership Insight:
Take the time it takes… to make someone feel valued by you.
It always pays off.
Take it from me — leadership isn’t always clean, easy, or obvious.
One of the hardest moments I’ve faced in my business journey taught me this the hard way… and it completely changed the way I lead today.
3. CHALLENGE: “They’ll appreciate it — if they know you care.”
This is where trust gets tested — and earned.
Every great leader eventually has to challenge the people they lead. But if you skip the ALIGN and LIFT steps, that challenge will likely feel like criticism or control. That’s when walls go up.
But when your team knows you’re for them?
When they feel seen, valued, and believed in?
Now you can say hard things — and they’ll actually hear you.
Because your challenge lands as help, not heat.
“There’s a difference when a challenge is offered with the intent to be helpful… even if it’s direct. It may be hard to hear, but if they believe you care about their success — they’ll appreciate it.”
Challenge with clarity. Deliver it in the spirit of helpfulness. Be soft like a brick — clear, but kind.
And always challenge to build, not to break.
Self-check as a leader:
“Am I challenging this person to make me look better, or to help them grow stronger?”
If it’s the latter, keep going. You’re on the right track.
4. GET OUT OF THE WAY: “This is the move most leaders skip — and most team members crave.”
Once you’ve aligned, lifted, and challenged, you’re ready for the most underrated leadership move of all:
Get. Out. Of. Their. Way.
So many leaders unintentionally stall their team’s growth by over-coaching, over-controlling, or constantly stepping in to “save the day.”
But if you never give your people space to lead, take risks, or even mess up — they’ll never build confidence or competence.
“Allow them the opportunity to make mistakes. New mistakes. Give them space to learn and grow.”
Getting out of the way doesn’t mean disappearing. It means backing off just enough to let them fly… and being close enough to catch them if needed.
Here’s what happens when you practice this 4-part model consistently:
- You’ll know when and how to ALIGN.
- You’ll know when and how to LIFT.
- You’ll know when and how to CHALLENGE.
- And yes — you’ll know when and how to GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Leadership becomes less about pressure, and more about permission — to rise, to own, to lead.
And the people you lead?
They don’t just stick around. They start showing up differently.
If you want to stop rebuilding your team every year…
If you want to increase retention, improve performance, and inspire real loyalty…
Then this 4-part formula isn’t optional — it’s essential.
- ALIGN.
- LIFT.
- CHALLENGE.
- GET OUT OF THE WAY.
It’s the framework I teach inside the Sellership System™, and the same system that’s helped hundreds of sales leaders move from stressed and overworked to influential and free.
You don’t need to push harder.
You just need to lead better.
Make it a great day,
– Ben
