Soar to Success June 2016

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BY ANN N. GATTY, PH.D.
ARE YOU A LEADER OR A MANAGER?
THE TWO SIDES OF EXCELLENCE
There is plenty of talk in business today about
what it takes to be a good leader. Plenty has been
written about the distinctions between leadership
and management. But does it really matter when
running an organization? I believe you need both
skill sets to be successful.
Leading and managing are two sides of the same
coin. The style of a leader and that of amanager are
both necessary ingredients in running a successful
business. Leading is more about the people
side of the business organization. A good leader
inspires people to believe in him or her; a great
leader inspires people to believe in themselves.
In other words, the art of leadership focuses on
building relationships and being able to influence
others to follow as you chart a course.
Management is more of a craft. It’s more skill
based, like cooking or carpentry. The skills include
orchestrating operational procedures that need
to be proficiently demonstrated on a daily basis.
Managers are necessary in keeping the operational
systems running smoothly and also, monitoring
the financial numbers. We find managers need to
be more task oriented.
But there is nothing better than an inspiring leader.
When the going gets tough within the business,
it’s gratifying to have a motivating voice and an
optimistic leadership presence.
Warren Bennis is known for being a leadership
guru. In his classic, On Becoming a Leader (Basic
Books, 2009), he describes the differences between
managers and leaders. According to Bennis:
• The manager administers; the
leader innovates.
• The manager maintains; the
leader develops.
• The manager focuses on systems and
structure; the leader focuses on people.
• The manager imitates; the leader
originates.
• The manager accepts the status
quo; the leader challenges it.
Are you a leader, a manager, or a blend of
both? Becoming a better leader requires some
self-reflection. Learning how to think about the
people with whom you work, while communicating
the vision of where you are asking them to follow.
Becoming a better manager takes time as you
learn the business operations, and how to navigate
within your industry’s trends. In addition, managers
are known for setting benchmarks for business
SOAR TO SUCCESS / June 2016 / Business Acceleration Strategies