| Discussions about leadership and management | | | | leader and crew leader are also common. It's at |
| seem to focus on the mundane chores of | | | | this level of leadership that the definition of leader |
| management and the lofty achievements of | | | | and manager clash. Those lofty definitions of |
| leadership. A good manager is one who can | | | | leadership don't seem to apply here. Or do they? |
| accomplish what a leader envisions, plodding along | | | | Let's look at a couple of examples. |
| with no real vision of their own, while a good | | | | Leaders are supposed to have vision; to know |
| leader has wonderful vision and an amazing grasp | | | | where they are going. No one talks about |
| of all factors affecting success. Right? Maybe not. | | | | managers having vision. I've found though that the |
| I may be exaggerating a little so let me clarify | | | | best managers were those who had a vision for |
| the issue by taking a look at three layers of | | | | what they wanted their own corner of the |
| leadership. | | | | organization to be. That doesn't mean they had a |
| Leaders are often portrayed as the ones in the | | | | corporate level vision, but rather one for their |
| organization that have the vision and set the goals | | | | own area of responsibility. Likewise, managers are |
| for the organization. While true, that's a | | | | considered the ones who follow orders and do |
| somewhat narrow view. Leaders lead people, but | | | | what they are directed by the leaders who have |
| they do that on different levels. Leadership can be | | | | the ability to determine what that direction should |
| divided into three broad categories. I exclude | | | | be. Such a definition ignores two facts. First, |
| political leadership as it's completely separate, and | | | | leaders at all levels also follow. In fact, a leader |
| often not really leadership. | | | | who can't, or won't, follow is not a good leader. |
| Those commonly thought of as leaders occupy | | | | So, to be in a position that requires followership, |
| the c-suite; the CEOs, president, vice presidents, | | | | does not lessen ones leadership role. Secondly, |
| etc. Their jobs certainly do describe leadership, but | | | | just because a person is in a lower level position |
| they are also managers. For example, they | | | | does not mean they don't know what needs to |
| manage events, finances, and production. As a | | | | be done, or what could be done better. I found |
| rule though, in medium and large organizations, | | | | my best success as a leader when my |
| they don't have much to do with managing the | | | | subordinate leaders felt empowered to make |
| human resource. Let me be clear on this point. | | | | decisions and improvements based on their |
| These high level leaders deal with people every | | | | knowledge and expertise. Quite simply, they knew |
| day, and the decisions they make certainly affect | | | | more than I did about their own specialties. |
| the organization's human resource. For the most | | | | So what's the point of all this? The discussion of |
| part though, they don't manage people on a | | | | differences between leadership and management |
| regular basis. | | | | provides an interesting academic argument, but it |
| Below that level are the mid-level leaders. I lump | | | | does something else too. It clouds a very |
| everything from directors to plant managers | | | | important fact. Specifically, leadership at all but the |
| making this a very large group. Titles are not as | | | | highest levels involves the human resource. The |
| important as the fact that these leaders have the | | | | problem is, often those lower level managers, the |
| same sort of responsibilities of their higher level | | | | ones who have the most responsibility for leading |
| bosses, but also often have a little more | | | | the human resource on a day-to-day basis, don't |
| responsibility for managing the human resource. | | | | get much training in that aspect of their job. |
| Next is what I think of as the entry level of | | | | Remember that people, that human resource, |
| leadership. This level of leadership is usually called a | | | | expects to be managed, but they respond better |
| manager, though oddly enough such titles as shift | | | | when they are led. |