What are the Three Faces of a Leader?
The Three Faces of a Leader measures the proportion of time and energy a leader spends embodying the three primary leadership roles, or faces, within an organization. The three faces are Visionary, Manager, and Specialist.
What is the Visionary Face?
The Visionary Face understands the importance of providing a compelling vision for the organization.
When leaders put on the Visionary Face, they are guiding the organization toward a vision of the future. By helping the staff see how the daily work contributes to the bigger picture, the leader ensures the organization will generate the momentum needed to make the vision a reality.
In early Stages, the leader communicates the vision directly with the staff. In later Stages, the leader must impart the vision to the Leadership and Management Teams who are responsible for connecting the staff’s daily work to the long-term vision.
When does my organization need me to wear the Visionary Face?
Stage 1 and 2 have a heavy concentration of the Visionary Face. Being able to paint a picture of the future and helping the team buy into that vision is critical in these first stages.
In Stages 3 and 4, the leader should cut back the focus on Visionary. The leader must be allocating much more of their time to wearing the manager face, directing, mentoring, and overseeing their team, who for the first time, is far beyond the owner’s span of control.
Finally, in Stages 5 through 7, the Visionary Face increases with each of these stages, as the leader is less involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. The much larger number of employees requires that the organization has a clear vision that is frequently communicated and unites the team.
What is the Manager Face?
The Manager Face understands the importance of managing the people and the work.
When leaders wear the Manager Face, they are involved in the supervision of the work or the people overseeing the work. The Manager Face includes time and energy spent coaching individuals toward greater levels of effectiveness.
When does my organization need me to wear the Manager Face?
Stages 1 and 2 have very little time allocated to the Manager face, simply because there isn’t much to manage. There are few people in the organization and process should not be over-engineered in these early stages.
There is a huge shift in Stage 3 through 6 where the leader is spending the majority of time wearing the Manager Face. These stages are critical as the leader is developing a team of managers and leaders to whom responsibility and authority can be delegated.
It is not until Stage 7 that the Manager Face once again turns to a minor focus. With a Leadership Team now in place, the leader is less involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and therefore can decrease the Manager Face significantly.
What is the Specialist Face?
The Specialist Face understands the value of being actively involved in the work of the company.
When leaders wear the Specialist Face, they are creating products and delivering services to customers. The Specialist Face also encompasses the time spent on the processes and systems that facilitate the company’s work.
In early Stages, leaders focus significant time on wearing the Specialist Face. As the organization grows, the leader spends less and less time wearing the Specialist Face. Yet, in every Stage, it is important that the leader maintains some time wearing the Specialist Face to benefit the organization from their expertise and stay in touch with the reality in the organization.
When does my organization need me to wear the Specialist Face?
Stages 1 and 2 have the highest level of allocation to the Specialist Face. This is when the leader is most involved in the operations and execution of the business while a team is being built.
Stage 3 and 4 sees a shift in the Specialist Face as the leader begins to delegate more responsibility. While still involved in the execution of the business, the leader’s energy is moving away from the Specialist Face.
Stages 5 through 7 see a continued decline in the Specialist Face. The leader still spends little time wearing the Specialist Face, so they stay in touch with what the organization is delivering to customers.
How does the Three Faces of a Leader apply to my business?
Research tells us that for each Stage of Growth, there is an ideal allocation of energy between the Three Faces of a Leader. Said another way, at each Stage of Growth, the organization needs the leader to spend different portions of time wearing the Visionary Face, the Manager Face, and the Specialist Face.
When a leader aligns their energy to the ideal Three Faces of a Leader allocation, their organization gains greater traction.
How does my organization need me to wear the Three Faces of a Leader?
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