Leadership & Management

·        Leadership has nothing to do with personal attributes. Say the word “leader” and most people think of a domineering, take-charge, charismatic individual. People often think of icons from history like General Patton or President Lincoln. But leadership isn’t an adjective. We don’t need to be extroverted or charismatic to practice leadership. And those with charisma don’t automatically lead.

·        Leadership isn’t management.  This is the big one. Leadership and management are not synonymous. You have 15 people in your downline and P&L responsibility? Good for you, hopefully you are a good manager. Good management is needed. Managers need to plan, measure, monitor, coordinate, solve, hire, fire, and so many other things. Managers spend most of their time managing things. Leaders lead people.

·        So, again, what makes a leader?

Leadership is a process of social influence which maximizes the efforts of others toward the achievement of a greater good. Notice the key elements of this definition: Leadership stems from social influence, not authority or power. Leadership requires others, and that implies they don’t need to be “direct reports.”No mention of personality traits, attributes, or even a title; there are many styles, many paths to effective leadership.It includes a greater good, not influence with no intended outcome.

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