How Can Managers Become Leaders?

A lot of managers hope to become great leaders, but very few are successful. But why? After all, both managers and leaders supervise a team and delegate tasks to them, right? So what's the difference between the two? Quite a bit!

Not all managers have leadership qualities. If a manager wants to become a leader everyone looks up to, he has to change his approach significantly. He has to understand the traits he must incorporate into his personality. After all, not everyone is able to lead the pack. Otherwise, the world wouldn't have seen only a few exceptional leaders in so many years.

An Introduction To Leadership: What Is It About?

Before we talk about what a manager needs to do to become a leader, it's prudent that you understand the two terms on a deeper level.

So what's leadership? Leaders are the ones who bring about changes with their vision, planning, and strategy. They enforce a positive workplace environment and use their adaptive decision-making skills to lead their team forward. Keep in mind that leadership seldom has to do much with titles or agendas. It's an inherent quality that people have to develop.

Leaders don't bow down to challenges or wait for others to change things. They prefer taking the initiative. They put in significant effort to accomplish their company's goals and visions. And they inspire others to follow them!

What traits make one a great leader?

·??????Leaders are clear about their goals. They have no delusions about their current standing, and they have no confusion about where they want to go.

·??????Leaders surround themselves with people who believe in them and are willing to walk on the path outlined by the leader.

·??????Leaders inspire and help their team understand their roles in the organization instead of pushing them to perform specified tasks.

·??????Leaders don't keep their teams in the dark. Instead, they make sure their team is informed about the happenings and plans timely.

·??????Leaders don't accept the status quo. They think out of the box and are interested in bringing about necessary changes.

An Introduction To Management: What You Should Know

And now, let's talk a bit about managers and their responsibilities. Managers perform pre-planned tasks regularly, taking the help of their subordinates. They plan and organize the company's operations and control their team, leading them to deliver desired results.

Managers are focused on achieving one thing, meeting organizational goals! They don't really think about anything else. But that does not mean managers don't have any power. Indeed, managers have the authority to hire, promote and even fire employees depending on their behavior and performance.

So what traits should a manager possess so he can perform his duties well?

·??????For one thing, managers should be able to execute a vision. They should know how to break goals into small milestones and create a roadmap for the team.

·??????Managers have to manage the day-to-day efforts and operations of the team and also keep tabs on necessary resources, planning for changes and adjustments as per need.

·??????They should know how to establish rules at the workplace and set up operating procedures for others to follow.

Managers should have empathy and good communication skills as they have to cater to their team's needs. They must ensure their team feels involved in the work. At times, managers might also have to accommodate their team's requests to increase productivity and instill loyalty.

What's The Difference Between Leaders And Managers?

Managers are responsible for controlling a group and leading them such that a specified objective is achieved. Leaders are the difference. They motivate and influence others, encouraging them to contribute to the company's success using their best potential. Leaders inspire people to give their best shot!

Managers take care of the day-to-day operations and ensure that their team is performing as per expectation. Leaders, on the other hand, set directions and motivate their teams. Controlling isn't on their agenda. They believe in communication.

Of course, it's quite possible for one to be a manager and a leader at the same time. But you have to realize that not all leaders become successful managers or vice versa. It's essential to understand how these two roles are different. Here's what you should know about the core differences between the two.

Vision

Yes, managers and leaders move forward with different visions. More often than not, leaders are visionaries. They set up new pathways, paving the way for their company's growth. They are always on top of their organization's performance and look for new opportunities which can enable them to achieve new goals.

?On the other hand, the manager's vision is limited to the specified goals of an organization. They work to achieve these milestones, implementing various strategies for the purpose. Their vision is limited, and they mainly focus on the implementation of strategies and the organization of tasks.

Approach To Work

Managers tend to break the company's long-term goals into smaller segments. They then use the available resources to yield the desired outcomes via tactical strategies and activities.

Leaders don't really think about assigning work to their subordinates. They prefer aligning and influencing their team and letting them grow as individuals. Hence, the team is motivated to put in their best effort on their own without being controlled by their superiors.

Perspective

It's not uncommon for leaders to challenge authority when they feel a decision should be reversed for the betterment of an organization. If a problem arises, the leader takes it in his stride and steps forward to deal with it. Leaders view problems as lessons and try to learn something new from them.

Managers seldom think about analyzing failures. For them, it's more about how and when. They have the responsibility of carrying out specified plans perfectly. And they hardly endeavor to bring about changes.

Invention Vs. Organization

Leaders spend their time coming up with new ideas. After all, they want their team to move ahead and hence are always planning for bigger goals. Their vision is set on the horizon. This does not mean they are unaware of the current happenings. They keep themselves updated with all the latest trends and advancements, too and use this knowledge for their vision.

Managers work on the already-established rules. They keep their eyes on the bottom line and are more worried about the organization's workflow. Managers are focused on ensuring there's no chaos in the operations.

What Should Managers Do To Become Leaders?

By now, the difference between managers and leaders is clearly established. Most managers hope their team considers them their leaders. But what can you do to ensure this? How can managers develop leadership skills which will help them get the best out of their team? Here are some tips that can be of value.

Work On Your Communication Skills

You won't find a leader who isn't a great communicator. This is one of the most vital skills that managers must develop if they want to be looked up to as a leader. You must know when to speak and when it's better to simply listen. At the same time, you have to ensure that your message is conveyed to the target in clear and crisp terms.

As a leader, you have to show people the path they can walk on. And communication skills play an integral role in this. After all, your words should create an impact that would inspire others to act on what you say.

Avoid Micromanaging

Naturally, as a leader, you cannot do everything on your own. But you can't micromanage your team, either. Leaders don't control their teams. Instead, they give their team the autonomy to perform tasks at their own pace. They realize it's crucial for employees to be given enough room for creativity, which will enable them to perform well.

Great leaders believe in empowering their teams. So even when you delegate tasks as a manager, you should ensure that your employees know that you trust them and their abilities. This is how your team will actually start seeing you as their leader who wants to motivate them to perform better.

Try To Become A Role Model

Managers have quite a crucial role in the workplace environment. And leaders are always looked up to as role models. So managers who want to become leaders should always have a positive attitude. Their presence should be enough to make others feel motivated. Your team should feel your positivity and encouragement even when you don't say anything.

Remember, your team is influenced by the attitude you show them. So you have to ensure that you become a positive influence on others if you want to be recognized as a leader.

Work On Improving Yourself

Want to know the most crucial trait of a leader? They never stop working on themselves! Let's face it! Everyone has flaws. You, too, must have skills that you want to improve. As a leader, you should always be motivated to push yourself to perform better. You must be willing to learn from your mistakes and improve yourself. This will ensure that you don't repeat past mistakes.

And this commitment to evolve will inspire others too. Think about it. When employees see that their manager is always open to learning new things, won't they be motivated to do the same too?

Be Open To Feedback

Leaders understand the value of honest feedback. Managers who want to be recognized as leaders should ensure their team members get timely feedback. At the same time, they should be open to feedback on their performance too. Remember, this is how the team grows together!

Be Clear About Your Vision

You cannot hope to become a leader unless you have a proper strategy. How will you lead a team unless you aren't clear about the direction you want to set for them? You must be clear about what you are working for.

However, you have to realize that, at times, you will have to adapt to changes according to your team too. Leaders are never rigid in their approach. They change their ways to enhance productivity and tap into their team's strengths.

Always Adopt A People-Centric Approach

You have to realize the crucial role your team plays in the success of the company. Hence they deserved to be treated well. You have to think about their needs while planning your goals too.

It's common for even the most successful companies to face problems with talent retention. This is where you can use your leadership skills. Use a people-centric approach while dealing with your team. Understand their requirements and make them feel valued.

Learn To Manage Your Time

As a leader, you must learn to adjust your schedule as per your team's requirements. You have to be clear about your priorities. Naturally, when you are a manager, you have quite a lot to do. However, you must know when it's time to prioritize particular issues. Sometimes, decisions have to be taken quickly for the company's betterment, and if you want to be a leader, you cannot miss out on such opportunities.

At the same time, it's vital to take some time out for yourself too. Take a break when you feel over-stressed or overwhelmed. You cannot be a leader if you are worn out and irritable. So, give yourself enough time to get back your bearings amidst the chaos.

Be Passionate About Your Work And Become A Leader!

Remember, every successful leader was very passionate about what he believed in. And this holds true for managers too. If you want to motivate others to perform better, you have to show them that you genuinely care about your work.

Don't compromise your integrity. After all, you have to set a positive example for your team. And this wouldn't be possible unless your credibility and integrity are established. People should vouch for your ethics and have complete faith in you to do the right thing. Only then will they take you seriously as a leader.

Keep one thing in mind. You cannot be a leader unless you work on your relationship with your employees. Value them, and they will inevitably look up to you.

Not every manager has great leadership skills, which is why many are unable to motivate their teams. Find out how managers can become great leaders.