Why Everyone Holds Back (Even When They Don’t Know It)

The 10 Second Trick that Illustrates Why People Hold Back

the Lazy Facilitator Episode 07

Have you ever wondered why your team seems to hold back even when you’re asking for their best effort?

I’m about to show you something that takes less than 10 seconds that will completely change how you think about leadership and human potential.

Most leaders struggle to get their people to truly step up. They ask for more engagement, better performance, higher standards, but somehow people seem to naturally resist giving their all.

What if I told you this holding back happens even in the simplest of situations?

Here’s a quick demonstration of what I do with groups that reveals this hidden tendency instantly:

I ask everyone to raise their hand as high as they can. Then, while their hands are still in the air, I ask them to raise their hands just a little higher.

And here’s what’s fascinating. Almost everyone can raise their hand higher than they did the first time.

Think about that for a moment.

When I first asked for their highest, they held back without even realising it.

What’s Happening Here?

Now, this isn’t about physical limitations.

It’s about our natural tendency to keep something in reserve even when we think we’re giving our maximum effort.

This simple exercise reveals why change initiatives fail, why teams underperform, and why breakthrough results feel so elusive.

However, once you understand this pattern, you can begin to break through it.