Building a business is rough, launching a startup is tough, running an organization is grueling, and leading a company is demanding–but what makes it bearable is having great people to support you, guide you, mentor you, and, on occasion, call you out.
Here are the four people every business needs to be successful.
The Leader: The leader is the person with the vision, the one who shows direction, the one who holds people accountable. Without a leader, there is no direction, and without direction, there can be no action. The leader establishes a direction, which sets the taskmaster in motion.
The Taskmaster: The taskmaster is the one who brings the vision to completion, the one who makes things happen. Even with the greatest leadership, if there is no taskmaster, nothing really gets done. The taskmaster provides support for the leader and serves the functions of completion and construction.
The Devil’s Advocate: The devil’s advocate is not necessarily adversarial or critical, but is the person who expresses a dissenting opinion to provoke debate or test the strength of the opposing arguments. You need someone who challenges you, who pushes you in a direction you might never have thought of taking.
The Spectator: The spectator provides perspective and insight, acting as your advocate, adviser, protector, and supporter and inviting thoughts and ideas for reflection. This role is often filled by a coach, mentor, or elder–someone with wisdom and experience who can help with hard decisions.
These four people provide your business with direction and energy, momentum and connection, correction and elaboration, reflection and openness.
Do you have these four people in your business? If not, whom can you get to fill those roles for you?
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
THE LEADERSHIP GAP
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.