Are You a Leader or a Manager? There's a Difference
The
terms leadership and management are often used interchangeably, but there is a
huge difference between a leader and a manager.
Leaders aren't always
managers and vise versa. It is a rare individual that is both of these things.
They have very different skill sets, both critical to success at a high-growth
business.
Understanding who your
leaders are and who your managers are will help you create an organizational
structure that not only addresses core business functions and needs but also
morale and culture, which are equally if not more important. It will also help you
identify where there might be gaps or people in the wrong "seats on the
bus," to quote Jim Collins.
Leaders have a unique
ability to rally employees around a vision. Because their belief in the vision
is so strong, employees will naturally want to follow them. Leaders also tend
to be willing to take risks in pursuit of the vision.
Managers, on the other
hand, are more adept at executing the vision in a very systemic way and
directing employees on how to do so. They can see all of the intricate moving
parts and understand how to make them harmonize. Managers are usually very
risk-adverse.
Deep down, a lot of
entrepreneurs are leaders and not managers. I'm one of those. I don't think
that I manage well, and if I had to focus solely on that it would be extremely
painful for all involved. Conversely, if a manager is expected to lead a
company, that company will be managed into a nice, tidy grave.
It's true that some
managers can inspire and some leaders can systemically execute, but these are
not their core strengths. For a start-up, the entrepreneur really has no choice
but to be both leader and manager, which is usually okay since it's probably
just him/her and one or two others. Understanding which you are will help you
make important, early choices about whom you need to grow that complement your
strengths and ensure the success of your business.
By: Curt Richardson
Source: Inc.
No comments:
Post a Comment