Chris Mathison wrote:
>
> What are the necessary leadership qualities for a leader in organizations
> today?
Chris I find it as easy to describe the leadership qualities by saying
what a leader is not as well. The differences between the approach that
leaders and managers take are quite easily identified:
Leaders keep people informed on what is going on and consult people for
their views. Whereas leaders share information, managers protect it and
keep it to themselves.
Leaders try to justify their decisions, whereas managers tell people to do
what they say "because they are the boss".
Managers seek out, deliberately hire and promote those "subordinates" who
say "yes" to them all the time. These rankers agree with everything their
managers say and unquestioningly do what the boss tells them to do.
Managers draw upon their past experience ("I have been in the industry
fifteen years....."). Leaders realize that the future is not what it used
to be and know that new ideas and views are necessary.
Managers are the people who give a presentation to other areas of the
company and take the credit for everything that is new and has gone well.
They will not even mention the relevant product manager or the person or
people who has put the most effort into achieving that success. Leaders
will acknowledge that person^Rs contribution and make it clear that they
have driven the project. Leaders will let the person most responsible give
the presentation.
Managers tell people exactly what to do. Leaders present people with the
choices and let them make the decisions themselves. And a mentor will more
than likely just give someone a job to do and not even point out the
various ways of getting it done well.
Managers join a new company and try to justify their existence and hide
their insecurity by questioning existing practices and suggesting the
introduction of new procedures to tighten things up. Leaders on the other
hand come in and develop fresh new strategies for going out and bringing
in new customers.
Leaders pay more than just lip service to good ideas irrespective of the
idea generator^Rs rank, status or responsibility. They welcome unsolicited
approaches and submission of ideas because of the interest and effort they
represent.
The underlying difference between managers and leaders is in their level
of confidence. Managers lack the self-confidence to include, share and
justify. Leaders have the courage of their convictions to realize that
they do not know it all. They are smart enough to know when they are not
smart enough- and know that these days that means most of the time.
Basically, leaders are the people that give employees the freedom and
mandate to learn- from the leader and from themselves. Whereas managers
managed in the organized age, we can manage well without them now.
Remember, be a leader, not a manager.
Extracted from "unorganization: the business handbook" at
http://www.unorg.com/bh.htm
regards simon buckingham, unorganization: business not busyness!
--Simon Buckingham <go57@dial.pipex.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>