There are many ways for people to follow a philosophy or work towards achieving specific goals. One approach is for them to take the roles of being shapers, sherpas or suppliers.
Different people follow this approach in different situations. Let’s explore how people may play these roles.
Shapers
Shapers are often decision makers who set the strategy and direction. Some aim to ensure that people keep focusing on the purpose, principles and picture of success.
Shapers set the tone in an organisation. Some also have strong personalities that influence the culture. People watch how these individuals behave and see this as ‘the way we do things around here’.
Good leaders, for example, are positive and predictable. They often aim to create an encouraging environment in which motivated people can deliver peak performances.
Such leaders play to their strengths and have colleagues who compensate for any weaknesses. They build a leadership team that covers the areas necessary for helping their people to achieve success.
Sherpas
Sherpas often do much of the work involved in translating the strategy into action. There are, of course, several definitions for the word sherpa.
Sherpa with a capitalised S refers to the ethnic group of that name that live in Nepal. Another definition is for the people who carry out many of the practical tasks – including carrying equipment – on a mountain climb.
Stephen McNair described how the term is used in diplomatic activities. Writing for the East Anglia Times, he gave the following description.
International diplomacy has much in common with a mountain expedition, and the term was adopted by the European Union for a key role in international diplomacy.
Before a grand public meeting like the European Council or the G7, each country will have identified a ‘sherpa’, someone who knows their government’s positions, where the real ‘red lines’ are, where there is scope for negotiation and on what terms.
The sherpas for the countries will have worked together so that by the time the Ministers arrive, they will have agreed the agenda, and what will and will not be discussed.
So the sherpa is absolutely critical to the diplomatic process. They must have the absolute confidence of their government, while remaining on good terms with their opposite numbers in the other governments (whatever public disagreements their principals may have).
Here we are using the term sherpa to describe people who are good coordinators and implementers. They make clear contracts about what is to be achieved and then orchestrate the resources to achieve the goals.
Suppliers
Suppliers often provide products, services and knowledge that helps an organisation to do superb work and achieve its goals. They may be outside contractors, consultants or provide other services.
Such people often need to follow certain guidelines in order to deliver the goods. Those who establish longer partnerships sometimes take the following steps.
They show they understand the organisation’s guiding principles and picture of success.
They make clear contracts about what they can offer and their role in helping the organisation to achieve success.
They provide great service, do superb work and make a valuable contribution to helping the organisation to achieve success.
Such suppliers recognise what they can and can’t offer to help an organisation. They then do their best to perform great work that enables the organisation to achieve its goals.
There are many ways for people to follow a philosophy or work towards achieving specific goals. One approach is for them to take the roles of being shapers, sherpas or suppliers.
Let’s return to your own work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of this approach? How can you do this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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