There are Very Few Leadership Books; Most Deal with Management
There seems to be a great deal of confusion over the difference between “leadership” and “management.”
John William Gardner, (October 8, 1912–February 16, 2002) was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Lyndon Johnson, who directed a leadership study project in Washington, D.C., has pinpointed five characteristics that set “leader managers” apart from “run-of-the-mill managers”:
- Leader managers are long-term thinkers who see beyond the day’s crisis and the quarterly report.
- Leader managers’ interests in their companies do not stop with the units they head. They want to know how all of the company’s department affect one another, and they are constantly reaching beyond their specific areas of influence.
- Leader managers put heavy emphasis on vision, values, and motivation.
- Leader managers have strong political skills to cope with conflicting requirements of multiple constituents.
- Leader managers don’t accept the status quo.
Management is the process of assuring that the program and objectives of the organization are implemented. Leadership, on the other hand, has to do with casting vision and motivating people.
People don’t want to be managed. They want to be lead. Whoever heard of a world manager? World leader, yes. Education leader, yes. Political leader. Religious leader. Scout leader. Community leader. Labor leader. Business leader. Yes. They lead. They don’t manage. The carrot always wins over the stick. Ask your horse. You can lead your horse to water, but you can’t manage him to drink. If you want to manage somebody, manage yourself. Do that well and you’ll be ready to stop managing and start leading.
- Knowing how to do the job is the accomplishment of labor.
- Showing others is the accomplishment of a teacher.
- Making sure the work is done by others is the accomplishment of a manager.
- Inspiring others to do better work is the accomplishment of a leader.
My desire is that you be able to accomplish the work of a leader. The Leadership Champion Mindset™ forum is dedicated to that goal. While you read these posts and begin applying these leadership principles, please be reminded of Bruce Larson. In his book Wind and Fire, Larson points out some interesting facts about Sandhill cranes: “These large birds, which fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time. Second, they choose leaders who can handle the turbulence. And then, all during the time one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation.”
Hopefully you will learn enough about leadership to take your place at the front of the pack. While you are making that attempt, I will be honking affirmation to you with great pride and inner satisfaction.
In every age there comes a time when leadership must come forth to meet the needs of the hour. Therefore, there is no potential leader who does not find his or her time. Read these posts, post your own comments and questions, and be ready to seize your moment!
