Leadership
and management are often used in the same context amongst many
businesses when the reality is that the two are indeed very different
and have very opposing attributes.
Simply put, a manager will use
authority to ensure the work gets done, leaders will be the difference
as to whether it’s done or done well.
Managers often do well to
climb the corporate ladder, but when they reach the dizzy heights of the
exec they often face a challenge, as good managers rarely have the same
skill sets as good leaders.
Those thought provoking posters that
feature in many workplace corridors or offices, taught us that ‘there
is no ‘i’ in team’. Today’s leaders recognise that actually there is,
and the ‘i’ indeed stands for the ‘individual’. Research has proven that
employees that are recognised and invested in as individuals are
ENGAGED, and engaged staff are the key to a business’s success.
Both leadership and management are essential to the others existence; without leadership, management cannot function.
To
recognise this difference is to put yourself ahead of the competition
by creating a motivated and engaged workforce that are led not managed.
To manage is to focus on the business today. Leadership focuses on tomorrow’s business.
So
‘never the twain shall meet’? Well not exactly, both do indeed meet in
their need to communicate. Whether it’s the manager to the individual,
team, region or the Leader to the managers, division or company, both
will need to effectively communicate. It’s our passion to harness and
nurture that communication in leaders so the end audience is an engaged
and inspired one.
Any comments? Email sarah@mashmedia.net
