by John C Smith

Created on: April 03, 2009

I have been in management for ten years now. I would like to say that I worked for some of the very best in the field and learned a lot. That would only be half true, the truth is that there is no one way to be a leader or a manager. You must be both in order to be successful. In sports they say the best coach is a players coach, the players will do anything for that man, does that mean they are a good team? No it does not. Being in management for ten years I have learned one thing, never would I ask anyone who works with me to do something I was not ready to do myself. Notice how I said works with me? In all my years I have made sure to be involved in the hiring process for anyone who was going to be hired to work under me. I made it very clear that if hired they would not be working for me but rather with me. Only a fool does not ask for help or take it when offered.

Being a good manager is being a well organized individual, A goodmanager has a plan in place and is always ready to execute it, but a leader can adapt to unforeseen circumstances. A leader can get the people he works with to go above and beyond the call of duty. A manager has to use their status to do the same. I was once told that a good manager manages from behind, let your people work give them space, listen to their ideas and respond to their questions. For along time I thought that was the way to manage. It just might be the way to manage but it is in no way the way to lead. It is in the words themselves that you find the starkest difference.

Lets take Manager first, What does a manager do? A manager over sees a project no matter what industry or field, a manager over sees a project. A manager is a finger pointer giving direction and advising on how to do things. A leader is the one in the fox hole with you, A leader is showing you how to do something while telling you how to do it. A leader is the first one in and the last one out. It says it right there in the name LEAD, that is what a leader does, a manager does just that Manages. I have never worn a name badge that says manager on it, I have never worn a name badge that said leader on it either. No matter what the title is the company I work for gives me, who and what we are is ultimately determined by the people you work with. Some will see you as a manager, some will see you as a leader. None of that is important all that matters is do they ALL respect you? Will they all work with you?

Learn more about this author, John C Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.