I really think that you have to have a good understanding of both in order to accomplish results.It is not that you are only a leader or a manager. If you understand your goals and feel the real need of leading your group to succeed you need to be wise and use your skills of leader or manager at the right time.
In order to be really effective as a manager or leader - you need to know your strengths and weaknesses, and those of your employees. How you manage or lead should vary depending on the individual or group that you are dealing with. As a teambuilding exercise my group and I all took the Myers-Briggs test and discussed the results. Knowing each team-member's preferences allows me to respond or present information to them in the way that they prefer, and that will be most meaningful for them.
Tony, We agree! Both play a huge importance in success.
Dr. Jean Norris
Zillah, We agree! Great point in that each situation calls for a different hat.
Dr. Jean Norris
Yes, from what I've learned, good leaders have strong managerial traits to help get the job done. Like former EBAY CEO, Meg Whitman.
Daniel, Excellent point! Thank you for sharing.
Dr. Jean Norris
You must be able to do both effectively. Earning the respect of the team is vital when working as a manager. If the leader is well respected and trusted by the team it is easier to manage as well as lead.
Mary, Well said! There are many situations that call for one or the other, or both!
Dr. Jean Norris
I have to switch roles depending on the situation. I use the management technique when There time issues to get the task done. I use leadership silks when working with teachers on controlling students in class. my management skills.
Henry, Nicely done! It truly depends on the situation.
Dr. Jean Norris
You can be both. It depends on the task at hand. As a leader we can set goals and motivate others to join in accomplishing those goals, and as a manager see it to fruition.
Mitra, Excellent perception, we agree. Thank you for sharing!
Dr. Jean Norris
You as a manager you have to lay the foundation for your team. As a leader who have to show the team you are open to suggestions and willing to listen. A leader is only as good as the manager who oversees the "team". A leader is only as good as the people he leads. You can have a great leader and manager but without a great team are they a good leader & manager ?
Very good point. A good manager & leader have the ability to see the potential in an employee and be able to take that employee and work on his weakness and turn those weanesses into strengths. If you can make the employee "own" what they do then you have managed them and lead them to be part of the bigger picture of success.
Great observations, Michael! Thanks for sharing. What do you think leaders can do to influence their teams toward a particular goal?
Dr. Jean Norris
I do so agree. You will have to change hats with every situation. Your team has to respect you in each role you play. Being a good example is the most positive way I have found to handle this. By jumping in and helping them in a stressful situation seems to gain more respect than anything.
What I have found by a combination of real life experience coupled with specific examples illustrated in this lesson, is that being an effective manager stems from a person's ability to care about their individual employees while at the same time caring for the business itself. I have to learn to not focus so much on the task at hand, but on the individual doing the task. What are their needs? How do they process the information and the request itself? How do they prefer to be given assignments?
For example, I prefer email as the main facet of communication as I can print it out and look at the details of the task. But I have found that some people prefer to discuss the task individually first so they can air out any questions they have or simply to further specify the task. As a leader, if I can tailor my communication to the individual, I have found that it is much for effective all around.
I believe that a leader is always a leader. They choose to be a manager as the circumstances dictate. Having a vision and ultimate goal for your team, challenging them to grow and celebrating their victories as your own is constant. Managing people and focusing on the metrix, the objectives being met etc. are one of a number of ways to achieve those objectives as a manager. Ultimately, developing our employees and helping them to succeed and grow is what we are about. It is the best and most rewarding way to achieving our vision for our organizations.
