Leadership and management has been top of mind lately – and not just leadership inherited because of rank or position. It’s the type of leadership that can be demonstrated by any individual, and should be practiced by every manager.
Management and leadership are not the same. Management tells a person what to do. Leadership inspires a person to do.
Management requires position. Leadership requires vision.
Management gets passed down from generation to generation. As in, “I’ve always been managed this way… so that’s the way I manage.” Leadership breaks through inherited bias, and seeks to inspire a new generation.
Management is command-and-control. Leadership is inspire-and-ignite.
Management says you must see the world as I see it. Leadership expands the vision by incorporating the possibilities as you see them.
Management says you must do as I do. Leadership doubles the output by helping you do what you do.
Management says look at what I accomplished. Leadership says look at what you accomplished.
Management says look at me. Leadership says look at you.
It’s sad really, that in today’s uber-social world, that so many managers miss the point. Just as the me-centric poster is soon un-followed in social networks, the me-centric manager is soon un-followed in corporate networks.
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