There is a definite difference between management and leadership.
Managers are what traditional MBA programs produce. These folks run companies by the numbers, focus on the bottom line, and consider people as they have to. They use tactics like subtle threats to ensure compliance, and horde information. Managers tell people what to do, when to do it, and often times, how to do it. It’s the bosses we see in the Dilbert cartoons, The Office, and Office Space. For many, this is the reality they deal with.
Leaders are very different. They empower their employees, and diffuse decision making to those doing the work. They hold their team accountable for their decisions, and help them to be successful. Leaders are the buffer between those requesting the work and those doing the work. They garner trust by being the example, being consistent, and being strong. Leaders are flexible. They hold to their principles, and take the heat when they have to. Leaders gain the respect of those they work with through action, rather than position.
Which do you choose to be?
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