Emily was ready. She was promoted to manager two years ago and her performance was above average. “I am ready for the next level,” she said. “I am not satisfied with things. I know there is more to being a manager than management. What is the difference between management and leadership?”
I hate that question.
I hate the question because it appears to promote a difference. In the end, to be a successful manager requires leadership. While we talk about the difference, the purpose of that conversation is integration. Successful management requires leadership. Leadership is necessary.
“Emily, you have been a manager for a couple of years, now. What exactly, are you dissatisfied about?” I asked.
“There are times, when it seems, I am only able to get people to do what I want by forcing them to do it. By being a bully, or threatening. Not directly threatening, but, you know, do it or else.”
“And how does that work?”
“Not well,” she replied. “I may get some short term compliance, but as soon as I leave the room, it’s over.”
“Emily, the pressure that people are not willing to bring on themselves is the same pressure you are trying to tap into. If they are not willing to bring it on themselves, what makes you think you have the ability to overcome that?”
“But that’s my job, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. And managing your way to it, will get you where you are today. Leadership is a different journey. And I believe you are ready.” -TF
Dear Tom.
An interesting question you bring up.
I would answer that a “leader” is some one, independant of where he or she is in the hirearchy, get peoples attention, and get them to follow, either in though or in action.
The dream situation is of course to be a manager, and to be concidered a leader at the same time, by the people one is hired to manage. And here, following your leadership blog, I am convinced that you can teach a lot of new managers methods to improve their leadership.
Once again – you touch many essential and very interesting topics on your blog.
Best regards from Sweden
Emily,
just made the first step in selfimprovement: recognizing that forcing people isn’t a long term solution. Second step is to accept the fact that it doesn’t work. She’s ready to the next step indeed.