We often think the most influential leader on a team is the person out front. People look at “the face of the organization” and think they are the ones setting the pace and agenda of the team. Sometimes that is the case but many times it is not.
The legendary John Maxwell made The Law of the Inner Circle famous which teaches us that those closest to the leader determine the success of that leader. Therefore, I want to make you aware of perhaps the most influential leader on any team.
Leadership does not always mean “leading a group of people”. Some leaders are Scouts. These influencers are out ahead of the organization scouting the direction and sensing the dangers and areas to avoid. They are also identifying opportunities for advancement and market trends. The leader is back with the people following the Scout and setting the pace and coaxing the people.
All great teams have tremendous Scout leadership. The Scout leader goes first, stands on the hill, and surveys the landscape. The Scout says, “Let me tell you about the landscape and what is ahead of us. Here is where we should go and why. Here are the obstacles. Here are the factors for success.”
When completing tasks and assignments, it is important to know which leadership role you play.  Scouts set the path. Subsequently, the senior leader oversees function, inspiration, and the leveraging of resources. Also, when you are communicating to leaders on your team, you must have the insight to know if they are Scouts or leaders of people. They must be leveraged differently.
Let me give you a classic image of the responsibility that a Scout carries. During a NFL game, when the quarterback makes a bad decision and things go bad, the camera flashes to the offensive coordinator up in the booth. That is the weight a Scout carries.
Scout leaders are often not famous. They are not the face of organizations. The limelight and credit are not something they crave. However, do not take them for granted. Show them tremendous respect and compensate them well. Scout leaders are critical to your organization’s success.
As you are reading this post, are you thinking about Scout leaders on your team right now? If so, tell us about the value that they bring.
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