The Manager and the Leader . . .

There are so many books written on the subject of leadership that I find it hard to uncover new ground, new approaches, new perspectives, but I read something just the other day that I really liked and I would like to share some thoughts I have based on what I read and what I witness as a consultant.

So much of what is written on this subject has do with changing who we are to move from task master, manager roles to leadership roles. What I have discovered is that not everyone is cut out to be a leader and most leaders are not built for management roles. So, instead of trying to be something you are not, embrace what you are and partner with those individuals who complement your skills and talents. Every strong organization has both a strong leader or leaders and an equally strong manager or management

team.

The following is a list of the different characteristics of the leader and the manager. (1) I think you will quickly see that while the characteristics of each individual are polar opposites, both sets of traits are necessary to create and operate a superior organization.

(See Chart)

As illustrated, there are fundamentally different ways managers and leaders think and execute.

Leaders are creative, innovative, unconventional and are risk takers. They are willing to take a step backwards if they see progress that can be made from that move. Managers use what resources, parameters and rules given to them and extract maximum value. They create systems, procedures and policies to execute the vision of the leader. They will work tirelessly to perfect the machine. They

will create the details needed to move forward.

The challenges leadership traits produce include a lack of desire to involve themselves in the minutiae of the vision, the details, and the procedures. They want to create and then move on. They are not willing to administer the plan. This is where superior management is required. The challenges manager traits produce is an inability to create and innovate. They stick to parameters already built and act out of tradition, comfort and ease. They fixate on the way things are. They tinker with systems but do not rethink them.

I know the preceding paragraph seems to show the inherent weaknesses of the leader and the manager but I think it shows quite the opposite. Without the visionary, creative minds of leaders, it would be hard to imagine true progress, innovation and organizational improvement. Without the competent manager to see the leaders vision put into place, molded to create effective and efficient organizations, the

visions are just dreams.

So my question to each of you is this; are you a leader or a manager? Regardless of the answer you will need a person or team to complement you. Typically, business owners and entrepreneurs are leaders and need to fill the top level of their organization with effective managers who understand the leader’s vision and are, then, given the resources to take the vision and turn it into reality.

CHART

The Manager The Leader

Manages Resources Discovers New Opportunities

System & Structure Based Human Factor Based

Decisions Based on Control Decisions Based on Trust

Has Long Term Vision Has Short Term Vision

Asks How? And When? Asks Why? Or Why Not?

Results Oriented Concept/Idea Oriented

Imitates Success Stories Creates Success Stories

Accepts His Destiny Challenges His Destiny

Is a Competent Soldier Is a General

Plan Based Thinking Intuition Based Thinking

Respects Efficiency Respects Innovation

1 – www.csun.edu