Manage or Lead ? Why the Difference Matters and What to Do About That Difference

Many books have been written about managing people, and an equally large number have been written about leadership. Some use the words manage and lead interchangeably, and some talk about the differences between the words, building a distinction based on style or behaviors.

With all due respect for these books, let me make it simple.

Manage things and lead people.

Manage

Often we can clarify much by going to the dictionary to look up words we already know. When I looked up manage on Dictionary .com, I saw phrases like:

"To direct or control the use of; handle, to exert control over, to make submissive to one's authority, discipline, or persuasion . . ."

Given those definitions there are many things we need to manage:

? Budgets

? Production schedules

? Sales forecasts

? Marketing plans

? Projects

? Work flow

? to name a few.

Obviously, management skills are important. Organizations need the capability of effectively managing the items and resources on the list above (and 100 other things).

The rub comes when you start thinking about managing people. People aren't budgets or marketing plans. People are a resource in a whole other classification beyond the other resources of an organization.

People won't perform most effectively if they are being controlled or made submissive to authority. (Hey, I'm just using the words from the definition I read!)

Lead

On the other hand, let's go back to the dictionary.com for some phrases on lead.

"show the way by going in advance, to guide or direct a course, to inspire the conduct of ?" are just a few of the definitions I found.

People respond to being led.

Just as you can't inspire the conduct of a budget, you won't be most effective trying to manage people.

Which leads me back to my initial premise: Manage things and lead people.

Beyond Semantics

I challenge you to think about your current practices, habits and approaches to working with other people. If you can find situations, times, or tendencies where you lean towards managing people, I encourage you to try a new approach starting today.

Here are six things you can do to shift your focus towards leading:

1. Think about how you have felt when being led vs. being managed. Write down five reasons you prefer to be led and use those reasons as reminders for yourself.

2. Explain these differences to those you lead and have a discussion about those differences. Commit to these people that you want to lead them more and manage them less. Ask for their help in adjusting your approach.

3. Recognize the strengths in those you work with and find ways for them to express those strengths more often and effectively.

4. Take the lead. Show the way by rolling up your sleeves to help a group with a sticky problem or to help them overcome a time crunch. Maybe you know the real work and can help in that way. Maybe you help by getting rid of an obstacle, providing moral support or getting the pizza.

5. Build relationships. Remember always that leading is a relationship activity, so take more time and focus more energy on building relationships with those you lead. As you build relationships you give yourself the opportunity to be more effective as a leader.

6. Think of yourself, call yourself, and introduce yourself as a leader and not a manager. The words matter.

Improve your management skills. Learn how to allocate resources, control expenses, and build projects. Use the thoughts in this article to help you continue to improve your leadership skills too. Both skill sets are important. And both always have room for improvement.

They just aren't one in the same? Manage things and lead people.

Kevin Eikenberry is Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on "Unleashing Your Potential" go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

In The News:

---

How to Prepare for Your Companys Financial Future

Sooner or later, most business owners need to look for... Read More

1000 Managers Turned Their Plans Into Energy!

I bet you can't tell me how leadership training and... Read More

Boost Your Leadership Skills By Disciplining Yourself In The Way Of The Question Mark

I'm often asked to come in to organizations and give... Read More

Is Your Business Ethical?

Ethics - in a profession or trade - is that... Read More

Why Employee Satisfaction Surveys And Employee Exit Surveys Make Good Sense

In a competitive world with the need for businesses to... Read More

Importance of Just-In-Time Inventory System

In today's competitive world shorter product life cycles, customers rapid... Read More

The Permissive Environment is the Suspect

The permissive and participatory conduct which most employees take for... Read More

Nonprofit Performance: Outcome Measurement Can Be A Good Thing

Does the idea of program evaluation make your stomach churn?... Read More

Building Trust in Your Business Relationships - 10 Steps

There are some simple things you can do with your... Read More

Workplace Security Plan: Does Your Company Have One?

Consultant's Perspective...The threat of violence whether it emanates from a... Read More

Is ISO 9001 2000 Right For My Business?

Firstly you should decide your own reasoning behind considering ISO... Read More

Across The Interview Table!

Job interviews are easier for the interviewer or the interviewee... Read More

Improving Your Inter-Company Communications At No Cost

It's all very well having a flashy (and expensive) advertising... Read More

Innovation Management ? Innovation or Profit?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Birds of a Feather May Be Turkeys

Birds of a Feather May Be TurkeysBy Gene Griessman, PhD... Read More

Why Would Anyone Hold a Bad Meeting?

Pssst, want a stock tip that will make you rich?... Read More

Leading Bad Actors To Be Good Performers

A successful leader told me, "The biggest challenge I've had... Read More

How to Delegate Effectively

ACCOUNTABILITY: Delegation is not complete unless subordinates are held accountable... Read More

9 Strategies for Writing Accounts Payable Procedures

The Cash to Cash Cycle Part Four of SeriesNext: Complete... Read More

Why Businesses Need to Start Nurturing Collective Wisdom

COLLECTIVE WISDOM CAN BE AN effective tool for solving the... Read More

The Truth About Performance Reviews

Now that it is January, many of you are putting... Read More

Bringing Ideas to Life: Seven Principles for Pulling Together

You're so excited you're practically bouncing off the walls. This... Read More

Is A Bad Attitude Permanent

Today there is great weight put on a person's attitude.... Read More

Boost Your Leadership Skills Simply By Answering The Question, What Does Our Organization Really...

The difference between leaders is ears. Good leaders not only... Read More

Office Politics

Office politics! It's just another way of saying: "The employees... Read More

50 Great Ways to Motivate and Not Break the Bank

Quick, Easy, and Even Fun! 1. Smile, say "Hi! How... Read More

Reducing the High Cost of Absenteeism

Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than... Read More

Delegation for Business Leaders - How Letting Go Works

A leader's role is to focus on those areas of... Read More

Project Management - I Want It ALL

The knee-jerk response to prioritizing requirements is to mark everything... Read More

Encouraging Behavior That Gets Results

You're the boss, and you have every reason to feel... Read More

Outsourcing Problem Analysis

As an HR professional, you have responsibilities in several broad... Read More

Few Things Are More Destructive Than An Insecure Boss

Few things are more destructive to a career than a... Read More

The Myth Of Relationship Selling Revealed At Last

The second you quit being the 'best deal' for your... Read More