When I was in the military, there was a lot of emphasis put on leadership. Now that I’m in the world of business, there’s a lot of emphasis put on management. Well, I’ve been thinking a lot, lately, about the difference between the two, and this is what I have to say.
Hi, I'm CT Moore (@<a href="http://twitter.com/gypsybandito">gypsybandito</a>) and this is my personal blog, a place where my thoughts go to wander. I'm a recovering agency hack who now manages <a href="http://socialed.ca/seo/">SEO</a>, <a href="http://socialed.ca/social/">social media</a>, and <a href="http://socialed.ca/content-marketing/">content marketing</a> campaigns through my consultancy <a href="http://socialed.ca/">Socialed Inc</a>. Sometimes I speak at conferences, too, but you can check me out on <a href="http://ca.linkedin.com/in/ctmoore">LinkedIn</a> if you really wanna know <i>that</i> much more about me. And if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line. I love it when strangers come a callin' ;-)
2 thoughts on “Management vs Leadership”
First off, you are no douche bag!
You have hit this squarely. Most managers do not see themselves as leaders, nor do they want to be.
I learned early on that as a manager, you not only hire the few hours in a day when someone is doing X, but you are bringing a person into your team, including what they do in the office and outside of it. Getting to know that person is key to the success of your team/group/etc. But at the end of the day, it about getting a job done. And it is sure as hell easier to ask someone with whom you have a strong relationship with to work late than someone you don’t!
That’s just it, Mike: managing human beings, not just resources. When I mentioned that they have egos, I meant it.
And having a strong relationship, not only social media is about that. Business is, as well. If you abuse the relationship you have with suppliers or customers, your business suffers. Similarly, your business suffers when you abuse the relationships you have with subordinates/employees.
After all, if I’m going to contract to sell my labor (as Marx puts it) to you, then the two of us are in business. There may be other suppliers, you may have the upperhand, but at the end of the day, building that relationship will mean that you can get the most out of me possible.
It’s kind of the same thing with respect. You can force me to show you respect, but you can’t force me to respect you.
First off, you are no douche bag!
You have hit this squarely. Most managers do not see themselves as leaders, nor do they want to be.
I learned early on that as a manager, you not only hire the few hours in a day when someone is doing X, but you are bringing a person into your team, including what they do in the office and outside of it. Getting to know that person is key to the success of your team/group/etc. But at the end of the day, it about getting a job done. And it is sure as hell easier to ask someone with whom you have a strong relationship with to work late than someone you don’t!
mp/m
That’s just it, Mike: managing human beings, not just resources. When I mentioned that they have egos, I meant it.
And having a strong relationship, not only social media is about that. Business is, as well. If you abuse the relationship you have with suppliers or customers, your business suffers. Similarly, your business suffers when you abuse the relationships you have with subordinates/employees.
After all, if I’m going to contract to sell my labor (as Marx puts it) to you, then the two of us are in business. There may be other suppliers, you may have the upperhand, but at the end of the day, building that relationship will mean that you can get the most out of me possible.
It’s kind of the same thing with respect. You can force me to show you respect, but you can’t force me to respect you.