How to be a leader rather than a manager – 3 basic differences?

Leaders get the job done and keep the group going.  Leaders sell the tickets for the journey; Managers drive the bus to the destination.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter F. Drucker
Define your vision

What is fundamentally crucial and an essential aspect of leadership is ‘visionary thinking’.  Constantly having a vision is what sets the leader apart from the manager.  The manager is the person who normally implements someone else’s ideas.  A leader will work from the end to the beginning i.e. they will start with planning their goal and then put steps in place to reach it.  Having this vision is the currency of all leaders.

Share your vision

The Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is an excellent example of how a vision can be communicated. Through his skilful use of language and imagery, King brought his vision to life.
I have found my most successful ideas are communicated informally, through one-one-one discussions in offices or chatting over lunch.  A night out with colleagues where invariably the conversations turn to the workplace can be invaluable in sharing ideas and bringing everyone into agreement.  Visions build excitement, leaders must have the ability to enthuse others and be a cheerleader for the cause.  Achievements should be celebrated and progress must be acknowledged and rewarded.  Strong and positive 2 way communication is vital to the success of any goal.

Recognise your leadership style

All leaders lead differently and it is important to recognise which style comes most naturally to you.  We learn through watching others do things and often imitate them at times but when the pressure builds, you are most likely to revert to the style that best suits your personality type.  It is okay to practise other styles of leadership so long as you are aware which style it is.  The most common type of leadership is the facilitative one:  i.e. you know what the end result should be and you actively empower others to arrive at a similar result.  This can be done through simple questioning techniques such as: 

1. Have you thought about….?
2. I wonder what would happen if…?
3. Imagine if we could…..
4. What do you think of…..
5. Who in the team do you think would be best to do…?
6. What obstacles are we likely to face…?
7. Where do you think would be an ideal starting point…?
8. Why should we do it this way…?
9. When would be best to start…?

Another approach is autocratic.  Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain is an example of this style of leadership whilst former USA President Bill Clinton is an example of one who used a facilitative style of leadership.

A third style is charismatic – having the gift of power.  Former presidents John F Kennedy and Franklin D Roosevelt were two historical figures with special abilities to energise those they led.

Although each of us has a style that comes most naturally, the best leaders can use various styles as the situation requires. For instance, a facilitative leader may need to act more autocratic in times of emergency; if the situation requires swift, bold action, the leader must be able to switch gears and provide what is needed in the crisis.

Just imagine how much more productive your team would be if they actually took ‘ownership’ of effecting changes either in the workplace or within the team dynamics.  Their ideas are readily sought and implemented and in turn a great sense of achievement is felt by all.  They need never know this was all your idea in the first place; your leadership skills have influenced and convinced them it was their idea all along!

Trish Mullen has over 20 years experience leading from the front within a military environment and many years since then coaching and mentoring others to be the be the best they can be by believing in themselves and knowing they deserve their achievements.  Trish is now leading and mentoring successful teams within her home online business to achieve enormous wealth in their own home businesses.  Find out more at http://www.wealthyincome4u.com and http://www.whoistrishmullen.com