The Mule, the Closer, and the Visionary
Three archetypes every team needs to be successful.
A former boss of mine introduced me to these people while appraising my performance and coaching me as a leader (or better said, investing in me). It was a personal awakening. That is what good coaches do: they shine a light on things we cannot see for ourselves.
The Mule
The Mule is a person who can take on an enormous amount of work yet still meet deadlines and create amazing products and presentations. This person usually has their head down, mired in the tactical, getting the busy work done.
The Closer
The Closer is the person who puts the ribbon on the project. He or she brings action to a plan and places it on autopilot so that the organization can move on to other tasks.
The Visionary
The Visionary can think big, long-term, and strategize with the best of them. He or she is not necessarily a person of action. They might sketch a profound concept on a dry-erase board, but need help in execution.
Notice the gaps in each person?
I have been all three in my Army career. Different staff and command positions forced me into these roles, but I default to the Visionary. I’m that guy who can really see the big picture and project where an organization should be in a future state. However, I struggle to get things into action. I need help there.
My mentor was helping me discover that it was important to surround myself with the right people. All leaders need this - a diverse team that compensates for each other’s strengths and gaps.
There are certainly more characters for use in evaluating your own leadership, but try these three on for size. Determine which one you are most comfortable being. Then ask or ‘coach’ your teammates to discover theirs. Your organization and your people deserve it!
Make It Personal!
Rob