Leader vs. manager 1/7
by Miki SaxonPost from Leadership Turn Image credit: lusi
As mentioned, today starts a seven part series discussing Warren Bennis’ 13 differences between leaders and managers in light of today’s modern workforce. The series will address two items each day and runs through May 9 (except for Sunday and Wednesday, they have their own agendas).
To give us common ground, I’m using these descriptions of leadership as the basis of my comments, but feel free to disagree. Unfortunately, I haven’t found comparable descriptions of managers—if you know of any please share them—so my thoughts are based on the best managers I’ve read about and known.
I sincerely hope that many of you will weigh in with your own thoughts.
The manager administers; the leader innovates
Given the pressure to raise productivity, reduce attrition, cut costs, encourage a “culture of innovation” and in general do more with less how can a manager manage today’s highly mobile, independent workforce without innovating? Nobody can supply the sheer quantity of innovation needed to thrive in today’s global economy, because there is no way for to be knowledgeable of every process, facet, product, market, etc. that is ripe for innovation.
The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.
Copy of what? The nearest leader? Every human has his/her own MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy™) which is a product of their life experiences and therefore unique; everything they learn is learned through the prism of their MAP. Over the years companies have tried to clone both managers and leaders with little success, while today’s enlightened workforce makes the possibility even more remote.
Your comments—priceless
May 1st, 2008 at 5:18 am
I’ve always thought of a manager as someone who basically shifts stuff around — someone who oversees the process. A leader, to me, seems to be someone who forges ahead, reinventing the process of necessary — or even developing a new one.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:19 am
Dear Miki,
this is a very interesting topic for sure!
My little experience tells me that few people can really become leaders… most people will “follow”, not “lead”, even with the best intentions.
I can also say, however, that with the right opportunity, and mentoring, those “few” can become “a lot”… it’s just that in the real world it usually doesn’t happen to have good opportunities or good mentoring.
Think about the average joe, with normal friends, normal job, normal life: not very easy to become a leader.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:44 am
My favorite quote about a leader is: “There go my people. I am their leader. I must follow them.”
This can mean a lot of things. To me, it says that a leader is always attuned to what his people think, feel, need, etc and acts –following what his people think, feel, need . . .
May 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am
Miranda, thanks for starting the discussion. I think that most people would agree with you, but what I’m wondering is if that description is still accurate. Today’s workforce is far more mobile, educated and demanding, would someone who just “shifts things around” inspire you to top performance?
May 1st, 2008 at 9:31 am
Hi Simone, good to see you. I’m a firm believer in “leaders in the instance,” those ‘normal people’ who see a need and have the initiative to address it and make something happen. Most don’t think of themselves as leading, just doing what needs to be done.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:33 am
HI Ren, thanks for stopping by. I agree with you, but doesn’t a good manager do the same thing?
May 1st, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Miki shared with me a famous quote by Lao Tzu about leadership a few years ago. According to Lao, “As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate…When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, “We did it ourselves!” To lead the people, walk behind them.”
I have this quote posted in my office and I continually review it to make sure I am drifting towards the right direction. Having said that, it seems like in today’s pop culture, the quintessential leader or manager is looking for every opportunity to be honored and praised. And yes, some even get a kick out of being feared and hated. The question is, “Who wants to follow or be managed by someone at the negative end of Lao’s leadership meter?” For me it’s a no-brainer that there is this constant movement of good and best-performing people from one organization to the next. Some leaders and managers unfortunately just want to be super stars at the detriment of the people they are supposed to lead and manage.
Regarding the differences between a manager and a leader, I believe that the gap is closing between the two. In today’s global and technologically advanced world, managers still need to have the leadership qualities to succeed. They need to be able to take risks, inspire, innovate and challenge conventional thinking. Otherwise, they will be history.
May 1st, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Brilliantly said, Nii. Thanks for stopping by, it’s great to hear from you.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:29 am
Thank you for discussion. Warren Bennis has been a great managment thinker. I recently saw the program previewed below and Warren continues to provide learned teachings all leaders can use
http://www.linkageinc.com/disl/preview_demo.aspx?a=faaf0e25-69c8-49c1-9206-8abdd30cbd95
May 12th, 2008 at 11:22 am
[…] see Miki Saxon, at Leadership Turn, doing just that, with a seven-part series on the topic starting here. She doesn’t reach my conclusions, but she conducts a rigorous, honest examination. Please […]