Leadership versus Management

Are you a high-expectations leader, who gets frustrated by people around you turning up but not switching on?

If you want to be known as the 'rockstars' of your industry the leadership versus management debate is one you want to study.

Life is rapidly changing and so too the way you influence people must be able to shift rapidly to meet the new requirements.

To get a sense of how much change is in store for us, consider how different life was in 1982, only a few decades ago.

Reagan was President in the US. The Berlin Wall was still up, and the Cold War was still waging. The Falklands War was being fought.

Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes were singing "Up there Where We Belong", while Michael Jackson released Thriller. It was the start of a worldwide recession. Prince William was born. The Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane. Tootsie & Ghandi were on at the movies. M.A.S.H was still on t.v. We'd never heard of test-tube babies or Friends, the Internet or iPads!

The El Nino of 1982 was the most severe in the 20th century. The Sydney Harbor Bridge celebrated its 50th birthday by allowing 500,000 people to walk across her. The Twin Towers stood tall on the New York skyline.

And, at work ...

There were no faxes, email or cell phones
Rotary phones, telex machines and typewriters were commonplace
If people had computers at all, they were dumb terminals
Semiconductors, cable TV, and the Internet were not major industries
"Made in Japan" was beginning to mean quality, not junk
Many of what are now the world's largest markets were closed to outside trade

So, what do the next 10, 15, 20 years old?

One thing is for sure the way you are managing and leading today is going to be different. Unquestionably, if you don't keep up you will be left behind - or worse yet become extinct like the typewriter!

Today leaders are expected to:

Produce more with less
Increase profits/minimize costs
Make sharper/better/quicker decisions
Respond effectively to the needs of your people
Manage multiple projects
Be available 24/7 ... enslaved to your electronic media
Compete with artificial intelligence!

To do this and more, you may need to make some shifts. The table below lists some key distinctions between leadership versus management. Pick one or two and focus on improving your skills in that area.

For example, many leaders, when they first come into coaching with me, are running on crisis problem-solving and very caught up in the day-to-day.

Through coaching, they get better at being problem anticipators and solutions finders. They are able to shift their focus to being more strategic about where they are leading their business unit too. Changing their focus has seen many of these leaders get promotions, and all of them feeling like they are more in control of their work life.

Key distinctions: leadership versus management

Management Old Way = Low Performance	Leadership New Way = High Performance	Distinction
Maintaining status quo	Leading the charge for continuous improvement	A business focused on current conditions versus A business designed for the long-term
Dumping change on people	Involving people in the change process	Like it or lump it versus Together we can make this transition easier and quicker
Tolerating low performance	Accepting only High Performance	I don't want the hassle of dealing with you versus The better leader I am the better you will be
One Management Style fits all	Flexible leadership style	My way or the highway versus How can I inspire you to your best?
Avoiding staff problems	On-time feedback about performance	Maybe it will go away versus Every player in this game is important
Patronizing, Critical, Gossiping	Leading with Integrity	I am your judge versus We have regular face-to-face coaching
Solving problems - but often in crisis state	Anticipating Problems	Busy, busy, busy versus Strategically working on the business
Focussing on weaknesses	Having people work in roles in which their strengths can be maximized	You have to fit your job versus Which roles/tasks here best use your talents
Asking a person to improve/change	Seeing the greatness in a person and asking them to step up to their potential	You aren't good enough versus There is so much more to you
Expecting compliance to change	Providing reasons, seeking debate and input, responding to feedback	Poor implementation versus High acceptance of, and excellent implementation of change and work processes
"I'm watching you"	"Do you have all the resources you need?"	Distrusting Boss resulting in 'employee mindset' versus Trusted Leader inspiring 'business partner' mindset
"It's your job, so get on with it"	"Tell me how I can help you succeed"	Employees 'having' to versus Partners 'wanting' to
Source of recognition and approval	Source of endorsement and challenge	People needing your approval versus People seeing you as the person who creates opportunities for them to grow
Fear based environment	Safe, love based environment	"I can't, in case I get in trouble" versus "Let's give it a try and see what we learn"
Creating push environment	Creating a pull environment	Employees avoiding responsibility versus Employees feel confident to seek responsibility
Focusing on the past	Perfecting the present	Focused on fear versus Focusing on what we can do right now
Working in the business	Working on the business	Focused on today versus Focused on today and perfecting the future
Reacting to senior management	Managing up	I have little/no control versus I can influence our future
Giving in to failure, disappointment	Resiliently creating new opportunities, where none seem to exist	Victim versus Self-Responsible
Pretending to care about people	Deeply caring about people	Manipulation versus Partnership
Manage by rules	Lead by principles	Decisions made on history versus Decisions made on the situation at hand
Motivate through competition	Motivate through co-operation	Struggling against versus Working together
Content with static skills	Creates the space for personal growth and development	Stagnant versus Enriching Learning Organization
Focus on short-term results	Focus on immediate and big picture	Keeping head above water versus Strategically set for the future
Systems that create people who know how to perform tasks	Creating systems that enable people to handle information and knowledge	I'm doing my job versus I am a business partner
Wanting people to rely on you for answers	Expecting people to be their own solution centre	Ego-centered Manager versus High Performance Leader
Doing it by yourself	Understanding the importance of having someone coach you to a higher level of performance	Same results versus Continuous self-growth and improvement

Leadership versus management - which is your pathway to success?

If you genuinely want to be a high-performance relevant leader, in this volatile and rapidly changing world then start putting yourself at the leading edge. Become a member of the 'Make A Dent Club' where you get access to the resources you need to be at your best and bring out the best in others. Join today.