There are four guys in a bar. In walks a stunning blond with four friends. If the guys follow Adam Smiths advice and individually seek the greatest possible outcome by chatting up the blond they will all get in each others way an no one will get the blond. Furthermore her friends will not like being second choice. However if the guys consider the collective outcome, ignore the stunning blond, and chat up her friends it is more likely that they will be successful in their aims. The second outcome is a simplistic version of Nash’s Equilibrium whereby everyone considering everyone else’s decision derives maximum gain.

Now lets look at the dance floor. My stated aims are for my partner to have an enjoyable experience and to impress her so that she or her friends will want to dance with me. I can go for broke and do fancy steps to my utmost ability. But I’m not alone on the dance floor. Out there are other leaders with the same stated aims. If we all go for broke the floor is likely to descend into chaos, my partner is likely to get bumped and not enjoy herself at all. However if all the leaders consider each other and cut out the high linear boleos, retrograde movements and other such bad habits then an equilibrium can be reached and we can all concentrate on making our partners experience that much more enjoyable.

“When you are thinking I can feel you absorbing the lead, computing it and spitting it out.”

“Just think about the embrace.”

An example would be if he leads a side step that is too long for her abilities and she reaches to make it to his intended target. From one point of view she has done the right thing in going to where he intended. However, from another point of view, she hasn’t communicated her capabilities correctly to him. If she continues to reach he’ll never find out the length of her step proper. Alternatively, if she takes her largest step possible without reaching, yes she’ll kibosh what ever step he had intended next, but he’ll get to learn what her step size is and that should make the dance all the better.

La la la, la la la la la
La la la, la la la la la

You’re quite precocious
I know which button should be pressed
Let’s go out driving
I’ll wait until you’ve passed your test
We can get a hood down
Throw away those learner plates
You got the hang of steering
Now try stepping on the brakes

You’ve been driving me too fast
You’ve been pushing me too hard
You’ve been taking things too far
Who do you think you are?

La la la, la la la la la
La la la, la la la la la

Do you believe in love at first sight?
Do you believe in fate?
I believe the good things
Only come to those who wait
We’ve got to plan the journey
Eliminate all mistakes
Take the scenic route
It’s called the art of driving

Maybe wait until the summertime
Maybe wait until December
Because a heartfelt seduction
Lasts a life time

You’ve been driving way too fast
You’ve been pushing way too hard
You’ve been taking things too far
Who do you think you are?

It’s called the art of driving
The art of driving
It’s just the art of driving

La la la, la la la la la
La la la, la la la la la

I wish you’d learn to slow down
You might get there in the end
Don’t think the accelerator pedal
Is a man’s best friend
You don’t have to break the speed limit
You don’t have to break your neck
Another dead boy-racer
Cut out from the wreak

You’ve been driving me too fast
You’ve been pushing me too hard
You’ve been taking things too far
Who do you think you are?

Maybe wait until the summertime
Maybe wait until December
Because a heartfelt seduction
Lasts a life time

It’s called the art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
The art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
Just the art of driving
It’s just the art of driving
The art of driving
The art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
The art of driving
The art of driving
The art of driving
It’s called the art of driving
It’s called the art of driving

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNjyDPOL2Ms

Scientists discovered that people move faster when reacting to something than when they perform “planned actions”.

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8493092.stm

Perhaps this explains some of the differences between leading and following. Why some followers bolt at the slightest intention and why some leaders are constantly frustrated.

Worry about what I’m doing does to you.