Leaders or managers? How do leaders differ from managers?

• Leaders direct, managers execute.
• Management is like investment - getting the best return from all resources - your own energy, talent and time plus all other resources at your disposal.
• Management requires efficiency, profitability, depends on minimal inputs for maximum returns.
• To manage well, regularly review your priorities, just as you would your investments.
• The same person can both lead and manage - they are different functions - like sales and marketing - they serve different organizational purposes or functions.
• Managers are like sports coaches - they inspire and develop people to get the best peformance out of them.
• They also provide structure and meaure output.
• Leaders champion change. They may or may not manage people.
• Management is a role, a set of responsibilities.
• Leadership is not a role. It is an occasional act, like creativity.
• Managers can be inspiring, empowering, nurturing, supportive and encouraging. An inspiring leader moves us to change direction. An inspiring manager moves us to work harder.
• Managers use open questions to draw solutions out of others as a way of reaching better decisions, fostering broader ownership and developing people.
• By contrast, leaders propose novel solutions. They want to persuade prospective followers that they know a better way of doing things.
• Managers occupy a role of responsibility for people. They may show leadership too, but leadership can also be shown by non-managers.
• By clearly separating leadership and management, we are better able to explain how all employees can show leadership without having to be in management roles.

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Your most important leadership trait 04/07

The fundamental purpose of leadership 04/07

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