I know a thing or two about teams. I’ve made runs – some successful, some not – at creating teams for many different creative projects. I’ve led a strategy team for a startup. I’ve led over a dozen writers for a newspaper. I’m a strong believer in the idea that you can’t be a leader without a team. So it goes, I know a lot about team membership.
My favorite team role is also the member of the team that ambitious leaders forget about most. That member is what I call the Enforcer.
It’s not uncommon to find a team that’s lacking an Enforcer. Most believe the leader is supposed to be the Enforcer. This is untrue. There’s a strong distinction between leading and enforcing. A simple difference is: the leader points in the direction the team needs to go and the Enforcer makes sure they go that direction. Two separate roles.
If you’re leading a team and finding incomplete tasks, unmet deadlines, stalling morale… it’s not that you’re a poor leader, it’s just likely your missing a member of your team.
Stay Positive & Don’t Forget The Enforcer
