24 Jan 2018 Leader or Manager

 What Is The Difference Between A Leader And A Manager?

One of the fundamental problems I see in organizations is people who are put in leadership positions who are at best only able to manage.  There is a massive difference between a leader and a manager.  A leader makes decisions and takes action and defends those decisions. A manager will not make decisions until he/she has had a meeting with his/her boss in order to get permission.  In effect, the manager tries best to absolve themselves of any responsibility. 

People do not want to be managed, they want to be led.   Even the term management comes with some level of decision making expectations. This problem exists in all businesses and government agencies.  Just the terms used do not lend themselves to action. We call people program managers not program leaders, division managers not division leaders.  Leadership ability should be the key criteria when assigning people to positions of responsibility. 

Leaders come in all types of personalities: there are quiet ones, brash ones, etc.  All have a common characteristic; they make decisions vice ask permission.  I would venture to guess that everyone can name a person in the organization who has been promoted but has no capability to lead let alone manage. There are also individuals who are very intelligent and can give a great speech but can’t lead.  We see that way too often in our political representatives.  If you have to have a focus group or a poll to find out what people feel about a topic, you are a manager not a leader.  Leadership does not mean you abdicate responsibility for the actions of the people in your organization.  You are accountable.  There is fine line between micro-managing in order to understand what is happening in your area of responsibility and being so hands off that you truly don’t know.  Leaders know the balance, managers don’t have a clue.  Leaders know there are times when it is necessary to fire or remove an individual.  That is just a reality.  Managers keep that person around or support the promotion of the person to get him/her out because he/she are not leaders.  Leaders have people who willing follow them, managers have people who tolerate them.   Leaders thrive in dynamic organizations. Mangers love boring monotony.

Next time you see someone who is in a position of authority in an organization; ask him/her what their job is.  If he/she says “I manage xx” or “I lead xx” it tells you everything you need to know.