Leading vs. Managing
Let’s start at the beginning. If one is going to venture into the world of leadership, one must first understand what true leadership is.
I’m sure you have heard the difference between being a manager and being a leader. Being a manager is more task oriented. You are the person who is delegating tasks, teaching folks how to correctly do those tasks, and following up to ensure those tasks have been completed. An important role but not one that is very inspiring.
If you want to be a leader, you must first be a manager. You must teach your people what is expected of them to perform their jobs effectively. But this is a small part of the job. Keep in mind that you will continue to flow in and out of this part of the role throughout your career as you get new people.
There have been times throughout my career that I’ve left this part of the job to others. It rarely works out well. My message somehow gets messed up and things are not done correctly. Let’s pause here for a minute.
When you get into management, you don’t want to become a micro-manager. You know that person who hoovers, gets involved in every detail and dictates how each part is executed. When I’m laying out a project, I provide information on what the result needs to be. I am not necessarily concerned with how we get there. Unless there are specific steps that dictate the success of the project.
Once you’ve trained your people and things are humming along, you can put on your leadership cap. This is where you begin to inspire people. Inspiring people helps motivate them which is when you begin to see a shift. People will do more if they feel inspired and appreciated.
Appreciation comes in all different forms. I have found that a genuine thank you, or a high five usually works well. It’s important that you get to know your team and how each member of the team likes to be appreciated. Some may like to be recognized in a group setting, with all eyes on them. Others may like appreciation in a one-on-one setting, without all the fanfare. The company I currently work for uses a recognition program that translates to additional money in an associate’s paycheck for going above and beyond. Who doesn’t love free money?
Being a great leader does not necessarily mean that you’re the favorite. I’ve always said that I am not a great leader because everyone likes me. I’m a great leader because I inspire people to be the best version of themselves. I see things in people that they don’t see in themselves. Sparks of leadership qualities that they don’t see in themselves. And I’m not afraid to point them out and begin to help them hone their craft.
As we embark on this ride to becoming a great leader, you’ll learn techniques I’ve used, some successful, some not. Just know that to succeed there will be failures. Things you try that won’t go so well. It’s all part of the journey.
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