Leadership versus Management


In business, I think becoming a great leader is far more important than becoming a great manager. Becoming a great leader is an aspiration of mine, and to get there, I focus on earning the respect and trust of our entire team by being a great role model and leading by example.

Fairness is another key quality which a good leader commands. One thing I have learned is the importance of treating people fairly , not equally. There is a huge difference. The underperformers in a company want to be treated equally , while the high performers deserve to be treated fairly .

I read once that a CEOs two objectives should be delivering predictably to the business through his dynamic leadership and then growing other leaders. Obviously, you cant be a high-growth business forever if this is lying on the shoulders of only one person. Thus, it is imperative for a CEO to focus on developing other leaders .

What do leaders want and need in order to grow? First, they need continuous training and career development. Taking future leaders to seminars and industry conferences can be a valuable investment in the training process. I believe in delegating and then giving new leaders autonomy. They need to accept from the beginning the fact that they will make mistakes, and those mistakes will undoubtedly become opportunities for training and learning. My direct reports are not and should not be afraid to make mistakes. But of course, they are expected to learn from them.

Its crucial for a good leader to be even-tempered. However, I can and do become tough when necessary. I believe in the team working hard and having fun together. We just had a hayride and a picnic for the team last weekend , and a few times per year the company pays for a bowling night. We are currently running a sales effort for a trip for two to Las Vegas. Just like in raising a family, its important to have fun. But its equally important to instill discipline and responsibility.

In this way, building a high-growth business is often very similar to building a team, in that its far more important to earn respect from employees than to be liked . And of course, you cant earn respect without instilling discipline and high standards. In addition, its very important to understand that being a great leader is an art, and not a science. I work at it every day. I am not one yet. I may never be one. But I will never give up.




Inside the Minds Stuff - Inside the Minds. Managing for Profit. Leading CEOs on Key Strategies for Increasing Profits Exponentially in Any Economy
Inside the Minds Stuff - Inside the Minds. Managing for Profit. Leading CEOs on Key Strategies for Increasing Profits Exponentially in Any Economy
ISBN: N/A
EAN: N/A
Year: 2004
Pages: 130

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