Doers Vs. Leaders
I have a good friend who is brilliant in his business and passionate about Christ. I found this blog post by Mark Meyer to be insightful...
In an organization with 100 people:
- 20 people are doers.
- With a leader.
- 80 are hanging around watching, experimenting, consuming, or complaining.
- When the 20 expand to 40, chances are there's 200 now in the organization (or will be).
- The 20 tend to get frustrated with the 80 for not doing anything and at times will tell them. (They should avoid that.)
- The 80 will ride the coattails of the 20 and feel like they did it and even take credit for it.
- This sometimes frustrates the 20. They should not be frustrated. They should just do.
- Great leaders pour vision into the 20 while casting the net out to the 100.
- Frustrated leaders spend a lot of time trying to get the 80 be part of the 20.
- Of the 80, some will become doers as the organization grows.
- The doers that simply do will some day realize there are people following them.
- Some of the 80 will become part of the 20 with a simple personal invite.
- A leader will be turned down 4 times for every yes. This does not bother great leaders. It frustrates others.
- Frustrated leaders have the opportunity to be great leaders.
There is wisdom that oozes from Mark's words. I would add two more thoughts...
- When I'm hiring, I'm usually looking for leaders, not doers. I know if I find a great doer, I'll get a bunch of stuff done. But if I find a great leader, he or she will find and lead many teams of doers and we will see the capacity and strength of the organization multiply.
- If I had an organization with 100 staff (oh, wait, I do!) and 80 of them were hanging around watching, experimenting, consuming or complaining...I would fire the 80, give the 20 raises, and use the rest of the money to invest in growing the organization.
