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Managers vs. Leaders

This month we are featuring a guest blog written by our Managing Director, Ian Godfrey, who happens to be an expert in understanding managers and leaders.

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We’ve all heard someone say “you’re a born leader”, right?

“Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people that do the right thing” said Warren Bennis in 1985.

So, leaders are bold, self-confident, highly regarded, charismatic and the envy of others. They stroll about giving words of encouragement that empower their staff to ‘do great things’; they’re not 9-5 people and they tell staff they don’t need to be either. “Do what works for you”, and they take everyone out for a great lunch when the project is completed.

Whereas Managers:

  • Ensure that the staff know their aims and objectives.
  • Ensure that the specification is fully achieved.
  • Enquiry ‘why’ staff are late to work.
  • Perhaps say thank you when staff deliver on time… but probably not: because the staff have simply fulfilled the expected criteria.

Hmmmm…. But even the most charismatic leader surely wants to achieve their aims and objectives and will need to ‘deliver’ their customers’ expectations?

And managers who have no regard for the ‘human’ aspect of their workers’ lives simply suffer from massive turnover of staff and as a result, deadlines are missed, and customers are dissatisfied.

So, what are we saying?

Well, in his statement Bennis clearly implies a number of biases:

  • The manager administers, the leader innovates.
  • The manager maintains, the leader develops.
  • The manager focuses on systems and structures, the leader focuses on people.
  • The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.

But these biases disappear if we substitute Manager with Management and Leader with Leadership.

Then, ‘Management’ is simply a collective word for a series of tools that can describe the expected processes; provide the necessary structure and define the acceptable boundaries within which organizational culture can develop, to ensure that a workforce feels trusted, secure and confident enough to innovate, inspire, grow and ultimately deliver upon the aspirations it has declared for its customers and stakeholders.

Leadership is then simply the way in which the management processes are applied. It is the Workplace Culture.

In short, it is about influencing rather than coercing people; it is about being a good role model; it is about good clear communication; and it’s about empathy & understanding.

And surely, in the modern world of work that is a blueprint for a good manager.

Management and supervision can be lonely roles if the organisation does not encourage open dialogue and learning. Grow Business Solutions can assist and support organisations to move to develop a more trusting, open, modern organisational culture. We can also offer one to one coaching to individuals wishing to develop their own leadership skills.

Remember:

If no one is willingly following you: you are definitely NOT a Leader.