Manager or Leader

Which are you? Listen here

Manager or Leader or one and the same? Do Managers lead, or do Leaders manage? If we look at the simple Dictionary definition we see…
Manager: “A person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff”.
Leader: “The person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country”.

The highlighted words perhaps reveal the most. For Manager the words controlling or administering is the best example. I will explain more later. For Leader the words leads or commands provide more clarification. Leading from the front and commanding respect. In sport we think of leaders on the pitch.
Managers will be expected to lead but Leadership is a separate skill.

In the 1950’s Harvard identified two management styles…Interestingly the word “Management” was still used! C.O.P and A.C.E
Control…Order…Predict: A very dictatorial style with little parameters.  If you control the actions of the employees, and manage the business on a “Command & Control” style, you can predict and create the behaviours and outcomes desired. Very autocratic and in some roles this can be required (Armed Forces…Factories on occasions…etc.)

Align…Challenge…Evaluate: A more entrepreneurial style and an empowered culture. Aligning values and vision, those of the organisation and those of all of the staff. Only then do you get full engagement and thus best performance. Comfortable to challenge ideas and evaluate suggestions to determine the best way forward.

Make a mistake in the C.O.P style and expect to be disciplined! Make a mistake in the A.CE. style and expect to be asked what you have learned.
People follow Leaders while people are administered by Managers.

“If your action inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” — JOHN QUINCY ADAMS