Professionals and executives around the world still believe that leaders around the world make up for great managers, but, whether it is true on the contrary still needs to be introspected and understood.
Over the years, there have been so many blogs, articles and newsletters written by management pundits that have been published to check upon and comprehend the thin line of difference, between professionals having merely good management skills and ones with good leadership skills.
So to know more about the two, often used interchangeably, it is essential to first understand and define them separately.
A manager is one who has the power to direct things in an organization. Thus, he is a vital cog in the entire process. They have a team under them with the help of which they intend to accomplish the task at hand.
A leader on the other hand is one who influences people, inspires them and tries to lead them to do things that help in the accomplishment of the organizational and personal goals. They may or may not be in a position of influence.
So here is a figure that should help you grasp the afore-mentioned information better. A research that was conducted by Gallup, found out that management of great organizations around the world, have been wrong 82 times out of 100 and have thus more than often hired wrong managers.
So it is wise to state that leaders are meant to be great managers, but not all managers turn out to be good leaders.
QUALITIES OF A LEADER
- Vision– A leader knows the current standing, where they wish to take the organization, and they understand what goes into making a successful organization. They are proficient enough to devise the future plans and strategies that help in the achievement of the organizational objectives.
- Integrity– People trust leaders, as they operate in a dignified manner. The people are supportive of the decisions and the choices made by a ‘good leader’.
- Communication Prowess– Leaders know the importance of effective communications, and thus, make sure that all information about the future and the obstacles, are effectively communicated.
- The ‘Go-Getter’ Attitude– They are quite upfront about the thought of challenging the ‘status quo’. They dare to dream, believe in the potential of their teams and are not afraid of failures but embrace them.
Steve Jobs has been an inspiration to an entire generation of entrepreneurs. He has believed in his dreams and has compelled his team to do the same. This helped him to not just create a multi-billion dollar organization, but, a legacy that changed the world computing sphere. His message to the world- ‘Think Different!’
REAL LIFE HACKS- BECOME A GOOD LEADER
PARAMETERES TO JUDGE YOUR PROGRESS
An article published in the Harvard Business Review, provides the parameters that one needs to check for, to be able to judge whether he or she has been successful in making the shift, from merely managing people to leading them and becoming a people-oriented leader.
#1 Counting Value Versus Creating Value – If you’re a manager, then there is a high possibility that you are merely counting value rather than adding it. That is a trait that is predominantly present in managers.
Leaders, on the other hand, are more inclined towards bringing about a change. They are always looking to improve on their skills. Since people and co-workers look up to them, they successfully manage to inspire them as well to grow and excel.
#2 Circles of Influence Versus Circles of Power – Similar to how leaders have followers and managers have subordinates, leaders are successful at creating circles of influence and managers succeed in creating circles of power.
The best way to be able to judge that is by noting the number of co-workers outside the organizational hierarchy that actually come to seek help and advice. The more the number, the better is your influence!
#3 Leading People Versus Managing Work – Leadership is more than just accomplishing a set of goals. It means to inspire, motivate and enabling people to dream bigger. What separates leaders and managers is influence and inspiration, and not power or control.
So, to all the young executives around the world, work hard and aspire to dream big. Create value in your organization rather than just chasing annual targets. Pave your own way and create a legacy of yourself your colleagues and coworkers cherish.