Are you a leader?

A simple question yet it is something that has vexed some of the most prolific thinkers from the industry. A good leader maybe a good manager but this may not always be true when said otherwise. A lot of people think that leadership and management are terms easily interchangeable. But that might not be the case always. You might be an excellent manager in your organisation but it may not necessarily translate into you being an equally brilliant and effective leader.

For years, management institutes and businesses have rained down a very traditional definition for these two roles. A manager’s role is to manage everything and run an apparatus- right from managing the budgets to team of programmers to handing out assignments to subordinates to counselling people on performance related problems. A leader’s role is simple and straightforward- to lead. Leaders do not bother themselves with the task of controlling people or budgets. They are there to empower teams and to make sure they stay motivated enough to achieve the end goal.

But the question that arises here is that with organisations worldwide undergoing a transformation of sorts and becoming more receptive to trading their old ways of thinking to suit their millennium workforce; are the lines between the two roles blurring? Are today’s managers being trained enough to become tomorrow’s leaders? And most importantly is it possible for managers to get out of their traditional role and take up the challenge of leading companies and people to become more competent & dynamic in near future?

These questions might be difficult to answer but what we can surely have is a better understanding of what makes leaders different from managers.  

1)     Leaders have vision. Managers have goals:

Leaders are visionaries! They see what is possible and then inspire and engage people to work together towards the achievement of the same. They think beyond the ordinary, are not afraid to take the risk and go an extra mile to turn their vision into a reality.  

Managers on the other hand are doers. Their focus is more towards setting and achievement of the goal and in the interim control people and situations to make sure their objective is met.  

2)     Leaders are change agents. Managers follow the norm:

Leaders proudly disrupt the status quo. Their job is to think, innovate, find ways to rattle the norm and build a unique & differentiated brand. They challenge conventions and are more than willing to embrace change.

Managers are a creatures of habit. They mostly stick to what works and refine structures and process within the organisation as long as it does not hamper the day to day activities in the organisation.

3)     Leaders build relationships. Managers build processes:

?Leadership is all about people and your relationship with them. The more you’d nurture them, the more they’d feel empowered and inspired to align with your vision. To a leader, there is nothing more important than building trust & loyalty and to continue to deliver on the promises made.

Managers focus more on setting systems and processes within the organisation. Their aim is more towards having the right structure in place that would help them achieve their goal. They prefer to work with individuals, even within teams, to get the desired outcomes.

4)     Leaders coach. Managers direct:

Leaders show unfailing trust in the potential and capabilities of their people. They invest much time in pushing people beyond the boundaries and staying optimistic about the outcomes. They resist the temptation of telling them what and how to do. They value freedom and letting people learn from their mistakes.

Managers usually involve themselves with assignment of the task and seeing they get fulfilled. They provide guidance on how to do the job and oversee its completion.

Next time when you are performing any task as part of your role, ask yourself these questions: Did you perform the task as a manager or a leader? If a leader had to perform this task, how would s/he have performed? What stops you from performing like a leader?