The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

DEFINING THE CHALLENGE / 85

Leading and managing

Leadership is a substantially different

role from management. A leader is

someone who makes decisions and

communicates bold messages, while

a manager implements strategies,

measures performance, and runs

systems. You probably aspire to be

called a leader rather than a manager.

Being a leader is exciting; being a

manager is mundane. Of course, like

most stereotypes, the statements above

contain a measure of truth, but sound

management requires some leadership,

and great leaders are—or at least know

what it takes to be—good managers.

When you move into a leadership

role you won’t and can’t abandon

managing altogether; to be credible as

a leader, you need to acknowledge the

past and what is currently happening, at

the same time as focusing on the future.

>>^ Learning quickly what motivates

team members

>> Asking your team for their view

on the situation

>>^ Thinking beyond what happens in

the short term

>>^ Knowing how to train and develop

your team

>> Setting standards to build a team

you can rely on

>> Thinking yesterday’s result will^

still count tomorrow

>> Being out of touch with your

own emotions

>> Not noticing what is going on^

around you

>> Not asking for feedback on your

leadership and ideas

>> Not keeping physically fit and

thinking positively

BEING A LEADER

Do’s Don’ts

A leader makes decisions

and communicates bold

messages, a manager

implements strategies,

measures performance,

and runs systems

LEADERSHIP

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