The book (Rocket Fuel – Wickman and Winters) uses many examples to make the point of how well the two skillsets work together, from Ford to Apple, through Disney to McDonalds.
I would have never called myself an “Integrator” before, but the description of the role in the book, “someone who gets stuff done”, is definitely me.
This past week was a great week, as the project I had been working on has now been given approval, and it will kick off on Wednesday of this coming week.
On this Project, I am definitely going to be the Integrator, helping the Visionary realise his dream of :
- Relocating the business to a showcase facility, where the welfare and wellbeing of his team are well catered for;
- We implement and future proof for a number of efficiency actions;
- We enable the business to grow organically, creating jobs and cementing the position of the company in the market place.
The project itself will last several months with the move to the new facility probably not taking place until late 2021 (planning permission and the physical construction time itself being the longest lead-time activities). The project is heavily front loaded to ease the later phases, and ensure that it is delivered as quickly as possible. As with the two leadership roles described in ‘Rocket Fuel’, diversity of the work force, and their influences on the project, are what will make it so good. Project kick off will involve engaging the entire workforce, sharing the vision, and then leading to 1:1 consultations where a thorough understanding of the workflow will enable efficiencies to be found, that will more than cover the cost of my consultation fee.
As for the Visionary, in classic visionary terms, he has been too busy running a successful business, to be able to afford to give the time to this valuable project, so he is pleased to have found an Integrator, with the same high standards as him, to take this project through at this time. I am really excited to be working with him for the next few months, sharing and learning as we go.
If you are a Visionary, maybe started or certainly running a business, and time is precious and you can’t seem to find a way to get your business to the next level, if you haven’t yet done so, read the book, and seek out your own Integrator… it’s time for you to realise your dreams.