The Lean Leader: The Long Snapper or the Quarterback of the team?
Philip Holt
Business Transformation Leader and COO | MBA | Leadership | Business Transformation | Operational Excellence | C-suite Level Engagement | Lean Thinking | Organisational & Value Stream Design
With Super Bowl LVII happening tomorrow (12th Feb) between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, I was interested in listening to an episode of the #Freakonomics Podcast: Why Does the Most Monotonous Job in the World Pay $1 Million? LINK
I've sometimes heard people use the metaphor of the Lean Leader as the 'Quarterback' of the team but, listening to the podcast, it made me reflect on whether the Lean Leader should, in fact, be considered analogous with the 'Long Snapper'.
Read the episode transcript to learn more about the Long Snapper role: LINK
The Making Lean Fly Podcast:
The role of the quarterback is a leadership role which perhaps isn't suited as a metaphor for the true Lean Leader, as it is one of high visibility, fame (sometimes infamy) and is very often the face of the team. On the contrary, the long snapper role is one which is virtually anonymous, infrequently receives praise for success but often deep criticism for mistakes, and has a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Field goals, worth 3 points, are a big element of the long snapper's game, as part of the 'special teams' role, and with over 1/3 of NFL (National Football League) games being decided by three points or less, it is the performance of the long snapper that is often critical to the game's result.
The Leading with Lean YouTube Channel:
I see this as much more of an analogy to the role of the Lean Leader, one which should make a significant impact on the performance of the team but not be the face of the team, or the person who takes the recognition away from the team. Just like the long snapper, they will often be the difference between winning and losing, as a solid supporter of the team.
Just like the long snapper, the Lean Leader is rigorous in their training and sees everything that they do as an opportunity to excel. In the title of the podcast episode, this was described using the adjective: Monotonous. However, I see this as pejorative to the craft, and would prefer to describe it as a job of excellence, one that is about excelling and demonstrating to the team the results that this approach garners.
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In my first book, Leading with Lean, I outlined that Lean Leadership should contain the following four elements:
The Lean Leader can make a significant difference, just as the Long Snapper can, and it is a role that we all should aspire to if we believe in winning in whichever type of team that we 'play' in.
Interested to learn more? Click on the following links to read the introductions or buy one of my books:
Feel free to visit?my Website at:?LeadingwithLean?and?my other?LinkedIn posts?may be found?at this?link.
I'm not sure I would pick the long snapper as the role model for a Lean leader. I'd pick the middle linebacker. Their role better fits your four elements. They are definitely in the game. They are visible to their teammates. They often coach the rest of the defense (and sometimes the offense). And they infect the team with their enthusiasm and work ethic.