Manager or Leader… or both?

Leadership is defined as the ability to motivate a group of people toward a common goal. Many of the images or people associated with great leadership have their roots in conflict. It is the stuff of generals who outwit their opponents, politicians who convince and channel groups into action, and people who take control of a crisis. We are directed to special individuals like Gandhi or Joan of Arc or Napoleon. The stories around such people seem to show that there are moments of crisis or decision where the actions of one person are pivotal. They have a vision of what can, and should be, done and can communicate this to others.

Sounds like a manager right? No! You will find many books, articles and information on why being a manager does not necessarily set you up to be a great leader. The 2 are a completely different set of skills, however, they can be used together effectively. Here is how..





What are the skills of a great leader?

According to a study by the Hay Group, a global management consultancy, there are 75 key components of employee satisfaction (Lamb, McKee, 2004). They found that:

    1. Helping employees understand the company’s overall business strategy.
    3. Sharing information with employees on both how the company is doing and how an employee’s own division is doing – relative to strategic business objectives.

So in a nutshell — you must be trustworthy and you have to be able to communicate a vision of where the organization needs to go.


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