We often see leadership and management used interchangeably but it’s important to keep in mind that they are not the same thing. In fact, while some traits overlap in what it takes to be a great leader and a great manager, they are often quite different. The biggest difference is probably that between the two, leaders have others follow them and managers have people simply work for them.
As companies grow, there are paths for leaders and managers. But for small businesses and startups, owners who want to be successful need to be both a strong manager and a solid leader in order to get their team on board while working towards their vision of success. Remember leadership is all about getting people to comprehend and believe in a particular vision set by the company or the organization to work on achieving goals. Management on the other hand is more about administrating and making sure that all day to day activities are happening in a proper way. Both are critical to the success of any organization.
Management and leadership need to also go hand in hand. Sure, they aren’t the same - but they are necessarily linked and are complementary to one other. Efforts made in order to separate the two might cause serious problems in the future. For an organization to be successful, it needs proper management who can organize, plan and even coordinate the staff, all while leveraging leadership to motivate and inspire. This allows our teams to perform to the best of their ability.
Let’s look at all the traits that can make up a strong leader and a strong manager.
Characteristics And Traits That Make Up A Strong Leader
Vision: Leaders must know where we are, where we actually want to go, and energize the team in actually charting a path for the future.
Integrity and Honesty: Both are very crucial for the team to believe in us and buy into the journey that we are taking them on.
Communication: Communication keeps the team informed about the people involved, where are at on our journey, and where we are going.
Inspiration: Remember inspiring and motivating and stimulating the team is critical for them to understand their role properly - especially as their role impacts the bigger picture.
Challenging Ability: Leaders should never be afraid to challenge the status quo. Especially allowing the team to contribute to our own understanding. We should have the ability to think out of the box while doing things differently between teams.
Characteristics And Traits That Make Up A Strong Manager
Ability To Direct: A strong manager must have the ability to direct day-to-day work efforts, review all the needed sources and anticipate all the needs all throughout the way.
Focused On People: A good manager should always look after the needs of their people, listen to them and involve them in the daily activities.
Proper Execution Of A Vision: A manager must have a tactical path to implement a strategic vision and should always break it down for the team in order to have a proper roadmap they can follow.
Management Flow or Process: An able manager should establish work rules, standards, processes, and other operating procedures so our teams are clear about what they can expect and what we expect from them.
Remember, not everybody who is in charge can or should be both a good manager or leader. In order to manage a successful startup, a person needs to be a mixture of both. But the challenge lies in making sure that we are managing the day to day operations properly all while leading the team. The ability to do both paired with a great product creates a competitive advantage that can be unstoppable!