Traditional management concerned itself with supervision; checking, delegating, controlling, inputs and ensuring staff did what they are told. Managers where seen as fitting along a style line between laissez-faire and autocratic, with the ideal supposedly near the middle as a democrat.
Today the issue is more complex and with an empowered workforce our style is less relevant and as managers need to become ‘more things’ to a more demanding workforce. The concept of managers needing to fulfil a leader role is prevalent. Some even argue managers are no longer required and it’s only leaders that will drive the companies of the future. This is fine in theory however corporate culture can take a long time to change and most managers are expected to fulfil the duel role. This creates inner conflict as the ideals of the two disciplines are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
MANAGEMENT is about: CONTROLLING…don’t leave the department, check what they’re up to, define competence requirements and ‘title and position give authority’ V.’s LEADERSHIP, which is about: FREEDOM…finding ways to encourage new ideas, creativity and initiative by letting ‘followers’ participate in a flexible situation where authority is shared.
MANAGEMENT is about: SURVIVING…dealing with short-term operational needs and processes whilst strictly controlling costs and watching the budget V.’s LEADERSHIP, which is about: GROWTH… to be achieved through identifying new (and possibly risky) ventures that could be the basis for future income (and perhaps losses)
MANAGEMENT is about: MANAGING… instructing, allocating, delegating, following up, organizing and directing V.’s LEADERSHIP, which is about: LEADING… inspiring, helping, encouraging teamwork, coaching, supporting and aligning
MANAGEMENT is about: ADMINISTRATING… overseeing activities, processes & individual tasks, control & supervision V.’s LEADERSHIP, which is about: PLANNING…seeking process improvement, implementing change, agreeing goals and empowering followers
DO YOU NEED LEADERS, MANAGERS… OR BOTH, TWO HEADS… ONE BODY?
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To me, leadership is about both managing and leading. It is all part of the same job. And the job of leadership means to me that you manage things and lead people.
ReplyDeleteI like how you make distinctions in the activities of a managing and leading but, to me, you cannot isolate one from the other.
Gwyn,
ReplyDeleteYou are of course totally correct! This still however means management will always be about a conflict of opposing ideas, very stressful for some and a great cause of difficulty, particularly for newer managers.
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