Learn to listen to their teams, to gain an understanding of how to inspire and guide. A manager wanting to gain leadership skills should focus on serving the team through encouragement and giving ownership to the team.
Thanks for sharing Laura. If someone is more of the manager type, what could they do to gain more leadership skills?
I think both skills are important, however I feel being a leader is somewhat more important than being a manager.
Managers tend to operate strictly "by the book" and are reluctant to make exceptions and changes to policy. Leaders are able to see the "big picture" and adapt policy when warranted by the situation.
Great awareness and insight, Leigh! It sounds like you look at the situation and how a person reacts to the situation to determine how they acquire their leadership skills. I also hear you saying that a person's various experiences (good or bad) can help develop leadership traits. Have you ever experienced a time when the leader jumped into deal with a problem and their leadership skills did not come through? What was the outcome and how might you approach it differently because of the experience?
Honestly, i feel that leaders are self-groomed. I mean through the natural order of trial and error, we learn, but grow from our experiences good or bad. From the situations that we successfully make it through, our surroundings also aide in the grooming of our leadership skills. I don't think anyone knows exatly when they're ready to be a leader. Leadership is how you react when things don't go your way. When problems get heavy, a leader doesn't run away, they jump in head first and get deeper into them. At that point, whether an individual is ready or not, those leadership skills already shine through.
Great points Leigh. You are right! It is helpful to have both qualities in order to be successful in a position. I'm curious, what could someone do if they are not fully skilled in leadership?
After reviewing the material, it is truly vital that one exemplifies qualities of both a leader and manager in order to be successful. One is not more important than the other. The leader demonstrates the long-term, has the future in mind at all times, and looks to make an impact on the people and world around them. A manager must comprehend that vision, and be swift to make it happen through delegating a support staff, support material, and a timeframe for success.
You've hit the nail on the head, James! Both skill sets are essential to success ALONG with the ability to know when to use them. It appears you have that part figured out too. Great work!
I think it is important to be both a manager and a leader. For example, good leadership skills are necessary when launching a new initiative in order to get all involved on board and behind it. After that is achieved good managerial skills are necessary to navigate the initiative to success. So I don't really think one is more important than the other. For true success both skills are needed.
Very well said, Lynn! Yes, you need both managemement and leadreship skills to be most successful!
Being a good leader may not be more important than being a manager, but to be a good manager, leadership is essential. People will do a job when managed. People will excel at their job when inspired.
Great thought, Donald. You are so right that it depends on the situation and the people. The ability to "read" and consider the big picture is critical along with having the skills to deliver in both roles. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
I think both are qualities needed and to determine which is needed most at any given time depends on the circumstances. For a well seasoned team the need to manage is probably less important that to lead; however for a team with newer or less experienced members a manager will probably be more important.
