The Operator is one of four leadership styles which together enable any organization, division, department, project, group or team to get to (and stay in) Predictable Success.
Operators are the ‘do-ers’ in any enterprise - they’re the practically-minded folks that get stuff done.
Operators work well alongside Visionaries, and in a sense, they’re mutually dependent - a Visionary needs an Operator to translate his or her vision into day-to-day tasks - and then to get those tasks completed.
An Operator, on the other hand, looks to the Visionary for the big picture, for motivation and inspiration in the tough times, and for the flexibility and lateral thinking to change the enterprise’s direction if things aren’t working out.
Because of their task-oriented disposition, Operators are often hard to spot in an office environment. Easily bored by meetings and unimpressed with simply putting in ‘face time’, Operators don't like to sit around idly, and can usually be found in jobs that keep them on the move.
- You can recognize an Operator by certain behavioral traits:
- They’re action-oriented.
- They improvise to get things done - and move on.
- They ask forgiveness, rather than permission.
- They work prodigious hours.
- They often work alone.
- They don't like being micromanaged.
Unless you’re working for a full-blown bureaucracy, no group or team, no organization or enterprise can ever achieve its goals without Operators. However, the Operator is not naturally inclined to play well in teams and in meetings - they’d much rather be out on the front line, getting stuff done.
In 'The Synergist' you'll learn how Operators can be involved positively in any group or team’s activities without feeling either over-managed, or that they’re being pulled away from the front line for too long.