Some people want to place managers and leaders in nicely wrapped boxes with great big bows, and yet others talk about how vast the differences are between leaders and managers. But the truth is, figuring out if there is a difference between “managers” and “leaders” is largely an academic exercise. Even if there is a clear distinction that exists between leaders and managers, does it really matter?
A Distinction Between Managers and Leaders…If There Has to Be One
First of all, and for the sake of clarity, I agree with the idea that not all managers are effective leaders, but all effective leaders are at least competent managers. They have to be. Confused yet? Generally speaking, effective managers get things done and effective leaders get people together to unite behind a specific, believable vision to get those things done.
Managers Need To:
- Be familiar with the levers in the organization. In other words, who and what to push or pull to get things done.
- Have the ability to execute competently. After all, if they can’t get things done, what good are they?
- Perform “all the nouns we use behind adverbs.” Basically, the never-ending list of managerial tasks and responsibilities that most managers engage in- coordinate, schedule, engage, direct, create, provide, etc., etc.
On the flip side though, leaders have to be effective managers to succeed. At the most fundamental level, they have to know if their vision can get done and if what they envision will actually work. Leadership is having a vision that others can follow and the wherewithal to execute it.
Leaders Need To:
- Know what’s executable and what’s not.
- Know how to “engage,” “enlighten” and provide incentive for the right people to want to follow, but more importantly, develop the blue print going forward. After all, a vision without an object plan is simply a hallucination.
While there may be an academic difference between management and leadership, I’m probably not alone in thinking that perhaps there’s still not exactly much value to be gained from spending hours on end trying to decipher it. Know what you’re doing, hire the right people to do what they’re doing and remember – we manage things and lead people.
