D is for Decision Makers, Drivers And Deliverers

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Great teams get the right balance of decision makers, drivers and deliverers.

Decision makers set the strategy. Drivers act as the gears – they live the message and translate the strategy into action. Deliverers produce the goods.

People may move between all three roles at times but, by and large, it is important to get the right balance in your team. Let’s explore how to make this happen.

Decision Makers

Decision makers set the compass. They make sure people know the team’s direction and destination.

They clarify what mountain the team is climbing, why they are climbing it and when they will reach the summit. They communicate this story in a compelling way and ensure everybody knows their part in achieving the goals.

Good teams frequently have two or three people at the centre who take responsibility for setting the overall direction. They often involve other key people, however, to ensure they have a real sense of ownership in terms of setting and implementing the strategy.

Imagine you are applying some of these ideas to the team in which you work at the moment. Looking at the team, ask yourself the following questions.

Who are the good strategic decision makers in the team at the moment? How can they continue to make good decisions and, when appropriate, communicate these clearly to the whole team?

Who are the people in the team who could become good strategic decision makers? How can we help them to continue to develop their decision making skills?

Will we at any point need to add any more good strategic decision makers? If so, where might we find such people? What could we then do to ensure they embody the team’s spirit and also add to the team?

If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to do the following things.

Describe the good strategic decision makers you already have in the team – write their names.

Describe the specific things you can do to, if appropriate, develop or add more good strategic decision makers.

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Drivers

Drivers are the gears of the team. They act as positive models and often lead teams within the team.

They translate the strategy into action and ensure their people deliver results. Such a driver approaches the leader and says something like the following.

“As far as I understand it, the strategy of the overall team is: To …

“My part and my team’s part in making the strategy happen is: To …

“Is that correct? Right, I will go and make it happen.”

Leaders must make sure that all their direct reports embody these qualities. Otherwise they will leap frog them and micro-manage the deliverers.

Great sports teams, for example, recruit drivers to form the spine of the team. Spurring-on their teammates, they ensure the strategy is translated into action. How does this work in your team?

If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to do the following things.

Describe the good drivers you already have in the team – write their names.

Describe the specific things you can do to, if appropriate, develop or add more good drivers.

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Deliverers

Deliverers are often experts and do great work. Some deliverers do go on to become drivers. But this calls for them taking a different kind of responsibility. They must be prepared to act as positive models and make tough decisions.

Some deliverers therefore prefer to remain brilliant niche providers. This is okay: providing they have a positive attitude, do good work and contribute to helping the team reach its goals.

Good teams get the right balance of decision makers, drivers and deliverers. They make sure they get the right people in the right places in order to deliver the goods.

If you wish, try tackling the final exercise on this theme. This invites you to do the following things.

Describe the good deliverers you already have in the team – write their names.

Describe the specific things you can do to, if appropriate, develop or add more good deliverers.

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