Leader or manager...
Should one expect the manager to be also the leader ?
Richard,
they are definitely both key skill sets & to try to say either/or really is a false dichotomy.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Leadership and management is like a perfect marriage. Both have a place in the decision making of any organization. You lead by example and manage by doing.
Rita,
I would agree that a manager should strive to be a good leader as well, yet there are differences in the skill sets & we need to develop both.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Although there are significant differences in management styles, I believe it is very important for a manager to be a good leader. A manager who lacks the leadership qualities will only provide minimal support which can cause low morale and/or high turnover rate. A manager with the necessary leadership skills not only has the ability to coordinate the work of several individuals, but also will provide employees with a vision and keep them motivated and focused on a common goal.
Lloyd,
I agree & they are different skill sets so a need to develop both skill sets is essential.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I belive that for one to be a sucessfull manager he/she must learn to be a good leader.
Great to hear it Rebecca. I was like you & almost thought "manager" was a bad word or a word for a bad leader. But yes, both skill sets are needed & valued.
Ryan
I NEVER considered myself a manager, ALWAYS considered myself a leader. After taking this course, I recognize how much the two titles overlap and I need to hone some of those managerial skills.
I think so, at least I hope so. Granted if you have someone who is super "wired" for management they are going to have a much more challenging time in seeing beyond the processes to the people. However I have personally coached some managers who have become, in time, better leaders. They will never be the "best" leaders but they do very well.
Ryan
I would say yes. Each one possess various traits that can be helpful in different situations. I think the best leader/manager is an individual that knows when to shut off the manager side of themselves and be a leader for their team. Sometimes this could be hard to do because some people are only managers and I am not too sure if you can train someone to be a leader. What does someone else think? Can you train a manager to be a leader too?
I agree that an excellent manager should be a leader, and I also believe that a person can be an excellent manager without being a leader.
Ryan
Yes. A manager always leads by example. An excellent Manager most definately be a "Leader".
I agree, there is a place for both. A leader should be able to manage time and money.
I can't agree more. I think all managers are leaders; however, not every leader is a manager. Managers lead by example when they make decisions that reflect the mission of the organization. A manager needs to obtain certain results, and as a leader he or she sets the direction for those results to happen.
I believe a manager needs to have leadership qualities as well as managerial qualities. Often times the duties associated with managing and leading are connected and interchangeable, simultaneously. In the hiearchy of many organizations, today's leaders become tomorrows managers. My answer to the question is Yes, managers should also be leaders.
Ted Vitalie
I agree. A good manager should be a good leader. You can be a manager and a poor leader and you can also be a great leader and not hold the management title. The two should go hand in hand.
A person cannot rise above someone they submit themselves to, so in order to have an effective team, a manager will need to be a good leader as well. Using both skill sets when they are required.
Regardless of your answer to this question, most employees expect that if you are their manager that you are a leader as well. I dont think you need to be a manager to be a strong leader. But I do beleive that you need to be a leader to be a strong manager
In today’s world, a manager should be a leader. The leader is a person who inspires and mentors others. That’s a key for a successful work environment.
However, is not always like that. There are manager that lack of confidence, values, creativity, great interpersonal and communication skills necessary to be a leader. When that happens there is always chaos.
