By Phil Birch on 14/05/10
Many managers like to think they are leaders, but good management does not necessarily go hand in hand with good leadership.
So what is the difference and which are you?
I believe that the one key difference, that influences all the other differences, is that leaders require followers whereas managers require policies.
Managers tend to have a fall back position, a safety net based on organisational structure, employment contracts, delegated authority and responsibility guidelines, company policy and procedure etc. Their followers are their staff and employees who “have” to follow their lead. Leaders on the other hand need to…
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…attract, convert and develop followers without this safety net in place.
Good managers often have many of the qualities of good leaders but, according to Phil a great leader has three qualities that sets them apart; inspiration, communication and motivation.
It’s one thing to know that you need these qualities and quite another to have them and demonstrate them on a daily basis. To move from manager to leader, you first need to understand what they really mean, and then you need to consistently display them.”
1) Inspiration needs to come with integrity and innovation.
Integrity sets the standard of personal performance, honesty, and morality. It shows commitment to the “cause” and it avoids politics and posturing.
Innovation is an important part of inspiration. Make sure it is open-minded and creative. Innovation is a willingness to learn and grow personally and professionally and it must include a commitment to continuous improvement.
2) Communication is a two-way process. One essential aspect of leadership communication is that it should clearly describe the vision by being unambiguous and concise.
A leader keeps the “followers” informed and passes on information. He/she does not hoard knowledge in order to protect “power” and position.
3) Motivation … An aspiring leader can be inspirational and a great communicator, but if you don’t motivate your followers then there is no real leadership. You’re impotent.
To motivate others it’s important to understand the needs and aspirations of your followers – don’t assume they are the same as yours.
Overall, develop your intuition and trust it.
The best decisions are made by a combination of information and intuition. Inspired decisions do not come from logic alone – anyone can do that. Leaders need to inspire.
Phil Birch is a business coach with over 20 years corporate experience. He is also business consultant for The3rdi – an online business resource.
