Leadership VS. Management
A manager is a person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a business or organization.
Brene Brown (I’m a big fan) describes a leader as someone that takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and also has the courage to further develop that potential.
One of the above is a job, or a job title, and the other is a skill set, an art really. When we compare management and leadership we find that you can have one without the other. We find, time and time again, that managers can be poor leaders; and strong leaders, in any organization, are not always the managers.
Leadership is the ability to influence change through meaningful actions and desired attitude.
Management is a system that offers organization, structure, and tools to produce predictable results when variables are consistent and external factors are known.
Management operations can’t keep up with the rapidly changing world around us, but leadership is a timeless art that offers curiosity, and empowerment to pivot in a diverse climate. Leaders challenge the structures in place to achieve beyond predictable results, they problem solve when variables are no longer consistent and influencing factors become unknown, and they motivate others to innovate alongside them.
“Manager” is granted title, and while the individual may have earned such a promotion or higher position due to quality performance, innovative contribution, and excellent attendance; a good manager knows that those accolades are behind them, they are no longer seen - especially by their new team of constituents, they are documented on paper or in a HR drive somewhere with little to no value moving forward. A good manager knows that it is their behavior and commitment that will earn them the respect of their team, guide them to success, and the becoming of a great leader.
Businesses and organizations from all industries have the opportunity to appoint more than just managers and create high performing employees. They can invest in their people to actively develop their skillsets and create a team of leaders. Managers, and even entry level employees can be educated, trained, and given the resources to take the LEAD approach in all they do. If you have appointed managers, you’ve done the bare minimum. If you’ve developed leaders, your potential is limitless.