You will find many quotes on Leadership, here are some of my favorites.
The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. —Theodore Roosevelt
When I give a minister an order, I leave it to him to find the means to carry it out. —Napoleon Bonaparte
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. —General George Patton
The art of leadership is knowing when to leave the baton to not disturb the orchestra - Herbert Von Karajan
They all say that same thing. The art of leadership is knowing what to leave alone.
But if you leave things alone they all fall over, right? No, not with good managers around you. To me that is the dynamic juxtaposition for a leader and their management team. So how do you blend the right team with leadership and management?
The main difference between leaders and managers is that leaders have people follow them while managers have people who work for them.
A successful business owner should be both a strong leader and manager to get their team on board to follow them towards their vision of success. At times the same person can perform as a Manager and a Leader, this is often a result of circumstance not intent.
But be aware, they are very different roles requiring very different skills and approach.
In his 1989 book “On Becoming a Leader,” Warren Bennis composed a list of the differences between Managers and Leaders:
– The manager administers; the leader innovates.
– The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.
– The manager maintains; the leader develops.
– The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.
– The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.
– The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.
– The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.
– The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader’s eye is on the horizon.
– The manager imitates; the leader originates.
– The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.
– The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.
– The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.
You may read this list and feel that it suggests that one is better than the other. That the language Bennis used to describe the leader is more aspirational, more value add than the Manage. I would argue that this is far from the case. The role of the Manage is fundamental to the success of a business.
The key is making sure that Management and Leadership is practiced at the right time by the right people!
by Richard Wright
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