Leadership ConneXions - Issue 12

Welcome to Leadership ConneXions Issue 12 and welcome to all our new subscribers. Leadership ConneXions currently reaches out to over 2000 subscribers.

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On reading the title of the following article, “Leadership Versus Management”, perhaps you might, like me, think that this article is simply preaching to the converted. Those interested in leadership can readily tell the difference. However, it is one thing to “know” the difference and another to “live” the difference – something I quickly realised when I read it. I have plenty of room for improvement. Perhaps others might also benefit from a refresher.

Barry Lawson

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Breeds Apart: Leadership Versus Management

By James Holden

In the corporate jungle there are two creatures at the top of the food chain. The Manager and the Leader. Both are critical for business success. But they are radically different creatures in their outlook and behaviour.

Because Leadership and Management involve different mind-sets, each of us will tend to have greater tendency toward one of these ways of working. The important thing to recognize is both are vital for business growth. So what are the key differences?

Managers are people who have been appointed in their position and have the power that allows them to direct and control their staff – managers are to be obeyed. Leaders, however, can emerge from within groups and inspire and influence people through their vision. A leader doesn’t have to be in a position of authority, but people may naturally follow this individual of their own choice. As such groups are often more loyal to a Leader than a Manager. The Manager rules, but the Leader is followed.

This is epitomized in the film “Brave Heart”. William Wallace, a mere clansman, leads the Scots to battle the English occupiers. Contrast this with Robert the Bruce, a Scottish Nobleman who has the authority to challenge the English. Robert the Bruce chooses to follow protocol and maintain the status quo with England – ‘doing things the right way’, yet he knows Wallace is ‘doing the right thing’.

Looking at the specific roles and behavioural traits of these creatures: Management usually consists of people who are experienced in their field, many of whom have worked their way up the corporate ladder. Managers possess good technical knowledge and understand how layers of the system work. Their main aim is to maximise organisational output through administrative implementation.

They do this by organising, planning, budgeting, staffing, evaluating, directing and controlling. Managers tend to be rational problem-solvers (focusing on goals, resources, organization structures, or people); they ask "What problems have to be solved” and “what are the best ways to achieve results so that people will continue to contribute to this organization?” They are good at providing stability, following rules, maintaining the status quo and adding order to culture.

Leaders have a strong preference for innovation; they can visualize a purpose and generate value in work; they are imaginative, passionate, non-conforming risk-takers. Leaders stand out from the crowd. They question assumption and are suspicious of tradition. A leader can be a new arrival to a company who has bold, fresh, new ideas but might not have experience or wisdom ⁽²⁾. On the whole leaders tend to be active since they create ideas instead of reacting to current situations; they provide a vision that alters the way people think about what is desirable, possible, and necessary. They are good at stirring people's emotions, raising their expectations, inspiring them and then leading them in new directions. A major distinction with Leadership is that, although it manifests itself in action, ultimately Leadership is a process of ‘being’, rather than ‘doing’. This determines the quality and character, which defines the performance of great leaders.

What it boils down to is that managing and leading are two different ways of organizing and motivating people. The impact this has on workplace culture and performance is markedly different.

To see whether you are a Leader or a Manager, answer True or False to the following statements:

1	I think more about immediate results than I do about mentoring others.
2	It’s nice to know about people’s long-term goals, but not necessary to do the job.
3	The greatest pleasure in my job comes from making the work process more effective.
4	I spend more of my time and attention on the weaker performers than I do on my top performers, who basically take care of themselves.
5	It’s my job to know everything that goes on in my area.

If you answered mainly “True” to the questions above, then you’ve given a Manager’s response. If you’ve answered mainly “False”, then you’ve given a Leader’s response.

Here’s why…

Question 1.

Managers focus on the process and immediate efficiency more than leaders do. Leaders think about how they invest their time to develop the strongest talent so that those people can grow and do more and more over time. Leaders figure if they do that, those people will do a better job of watching and improving processes than they themselves will ⁽⁴⁾.

Question 2.

Someone once said that managers get “work done through people,” but leaders get “people done through work.” Since leaders need to know what makes individual people tick, they want to know long-term goals and aspirations, so they can craft ways to combine personal goals with the work at hand, or even the organization’s goals. For a given project, it may be less important to know people’s long-term goals, but for organizational success and growth, it is necessary ⁽⁴⁾.

Question 3.

This is a classic manager’s priority, deriving most pleasure from process and efficiency. Leaders enjoy that too, but they tend to enjoy most when they can help people and organizations grow ⁽⁴⁾.

Question 4.

Leaders use their time as a reward, and seek to invest their attention where it can have the most upside impact. Generally speaking, people have the most opportunity to grow and become truly great where they already demonstrate strong performance, and so leaders tend to avoid remedial projects or the constant oversight of weaker performers. Instead, they spend more of their attention on the people who are the best at what they do, since those are the people who will bring invent the greatest process and performance improvements in the future. Managers tend to focus more on problems to solve than they do on opportunities to boost people toward previously unachieved levels of excellence ⁽⁴⁾.

Question 5.

Leaders focus more on knowing the people who know what is going on, rather than on the details of everything that is going on ⁽⁴⁾.

Businesses should realize they need both good Management and great Leaders; providing efficient function and energizing relationships. Leadership risk creates opportunities whilst management discipline converts these to tangible results. Both are vital to the ecology of the business environment.

The problem is the business world is full of Managers and desperately short of people engaging in Leadership ⁽¹⁾. The corporate structure has nurtured the Managers, and so they have become the dominant species. Leaders on the other hand, are becoming critically endangered.

This factor has a huge impact on organisational survivability. Unprecedented global market change creates volatility, requiring greater adaptability in approach to opportunities and threats.

The challenge now lies in shifting the balance for workplaces that are under-led and over-managed. There is a need to identify and nurture Leaders from within the organization. This may also take a little cross-breeding. For modern day Managers must learn to incorporate greater elements of Leadership into their managerial practice in order to inspire and influence their team. And the reverse is also true. Leaders need to support and respect the discipline of Management because ultimately Leadership is about results.

It has been shown time and again that Leaders have needed strong one-to-one relationships with teachers whose strengths lie in cultivating talent in order to reach their full potential. If you think you are a Leader, find a teacher that you admire - someone who you can connect with and who can help you develop your natural talents and interests. For there is an undeniable connection between Leadership and culture that creates sustainable peak performance and long term profitability.

Long-term survival in the corporate world needs the vision of true Leadership to provide competitive business advantage.

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James Holden is the CEO of Leadership Revolution. He has a background in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Neuro-Semantics as a trainer and master coach.

References ...

1. Emmett C. Murphy and Mark. A. Murphy. ‘Leading at the Edge of Chaos’, Prentice Hall, 2003

2. Fenton, John. ‘ 101 Ways to Boost Your Business Performance’, Mandarin Business, 1990

3. Maccoby, M. ‘Understanding the Difference between Leadership and Management’. Research Technology Management; Volume 43. No. 1. Jan-Feb, 2000. pp 57-59.

4. Schuler, A. J. “Are You A Leader? Part I: The Leadership Self Test”. Schuler’s Newsletter, 2003

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35 Questions That Will Change Your Life - Discovering Your Truth about Love, Work, Play, Friendships, Purpose, Problems and Gratitude

Love

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antoine De Saint-Exupery

1. What are ten reasons someone would be happy to be in a relationship with me?

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“How can anyone ever love you for who you are if you become someone else to be with them?” Stephan C. Paul

2. Who are five people I admire for their ability to radiate and share love?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Love is very simple; it is we who are complex.” Leo Buscaglia

3. What’s holding me back from opening my heart more fully?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“When I was on the search for a cosmic mate, I tended to exclude people like myself.” Ann Wilson Schaef

4. What are ten qualities I really value in my closest relationships?

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“Love always starts with you. It is a choice that you make, from moment to moment, to look for what is lovable about your partner.” Barbra De Angelis

5. Am I willing to take risks and create more heartfelt connections with others? If not, why not? What am I willing to do this week?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“The victory, joy and growth aren’t achieved by avoiding. The rewards come by over coming. Each time we surrender and let go, we’ll be propelled forward on our journey”. Melody Beattie

Work

“Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.” Francis Bacon

6. What do I need to change or develop in myself to achieve the success I desire?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” Don Juan

7. What are my five greatest strengths at work?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“The pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” Reginald B. Mansell

8. Who are two people I truly admire in business and why?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“The average person has four ideas a year which, if any one is acted on, would make them a millionaire.” Brian Tracy

9. What would I do differently at work if I knew I couldn’t fail or be criticized?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.” Richard Bach

10. What are two things that if I did consistently for the next month would really make a noticeable difference in my quest for greater success? Am I willing to commit to these positive action steps? If not, why not? If so, what specifically must I do this week?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretsky

Play

“Most of the time I don’t have much fun. The rest of the time I don’t have any fun at all.” Woody Allen

11. What are ten things I really like to do?

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“The ordinary arts we practice everyday at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” Thomas Moore

12. What are five activities I used to enjoy doing as a child that I wish I did today?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso

13. How can I bring these childhood pleasures into my life today?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Any little bit of experimenting in self-nurturance is very frightening for most of us.” Julia Cameron

14. Who are five playful partners or potential partners in my life today?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“All the animals except man know that the principal business in life is to enjoy it.” Samuel Butler

15. What playful activities am I willing to initiate in the next week?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Procrastination is the thief of time.” Edward Young

Friendships

“A friend is a gift you give yourself.” Robert Louis Stevenson

16. Who are my most treasured friends and why?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“A faithful friend is the medicine of life.” Ecclesiasticus 6:16

17. When do I feel most connected with others? When do I feel most disconnected?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.” Samuel Butler

18. When I distance others what are the fears, resentments or other reasons behind this?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.” Samuel Butler

19. What do I need to resolve or change about myself to have more fulfilling friendships?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“One of my problems is that I internalize everything. I can’t express anger. I grow a tumor instead.” Woody Allen

20. What can I do this week to create more meaningful connections with others?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what people fear most.” Fyodor Dostoyevski

Purpose and Spirituality

“A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.” Thomas Carlyle

21. At what times in my life have I felt most passionate or alive?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it’s all about” Joseph Campbell

22. What does spirituality mean to me?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“We are not human beings trying to be spiritual. We are spiritual beings trying to be human.” Jacquelyn Small

23. What activities or personal experiences feel most meaningful to me?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“If a story is in you, it has got to come out.” William Faulkner

24. Which people do I admire for their strong sense of spirituality? How does their spirituality manifest itself?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me” William Blake

25. Do I want to create a more spiritual connection in my life? What is something I could I do this week to cultivate this?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Albert Einstein

Problems

“There is no crisis without a gift for you in its hands. We seek those crises because we need their gifts.” Richard Bach

26. Looking back at my life, what are three problems from my past that have paved the way for positive growth and how did this occur?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“We learn as much from sorrow as from joy, as much from illness as from health, from handicap as from advantage-- and indeed perhaps more.” Pearl S. Buck

27. Choose three current problems in your life today. How can these problems be turned into opportunities for personal growth?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Those things that hurt instruct....wise people learn not to dread but actually welcome problems.” Ben Franklin

28. Do I ever create problems to get attention or pay someone back? If so, how?

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“Some kids don’t fight, they just get even.” Anonymous

29. Who are three people I feel handle problems effectively? How are they different from me?

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“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word “happiness” would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” Carl Jung

30. What are two problems I can resolve this week? What specifically can I do?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom. It is because of problems that we grow

mentally and spiritually.” Scott Peck

Gratitude

“Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom. It is because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.” Scott Peck

31. What are ten things I feel grateful for in my life right now?

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“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” Colette

32. What is standing in the way of spending time each day in moments of gratitude? What do I need to do to change this?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“I am still learning.” Michelangelo

33. Which people would I like to thank for their help and support in my journey through life?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Edith Wharton

34. Am I willing to spread more gratitude through my life by telling people how I feel? What will I do today? This week?

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____________________________________________________________________________________“Big-heartedness is the most essential virtue on the spiritual journey.” Matthew Fox

35. What are ten ways I can acknowledge myself along this journey?

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“You are a child of God; your playing small doesn’t serve the world.” Nelson Mandela

About the Author

Mitch Meyerson is a consultant, author and coach. Over the last 20 years has been helping clients break through barriers in their personal and professional lives. He is the author of six personal development books and audios including “Six Keys To creating The Life You Desire”, “When Is Enough Enough?”, “When Parents Love Too Much” and “Designing The Life Of Your Dreams”. His books appear in over 21 languages and he has been featured the Oprah Winfrey show. He is also the Founder and Creator of The Guerrilla Marketing Coach Certification Program and has personally trained over 60 marketing coaches. He can be reached for telephone coaching or consulting at: mitch@gmarketingcoach.com (480)718-5939 and Mitch@gmarketingcoach.com

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