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Marketing
Definitions
Are
you a manager or leader?
To
find out, let's start with the Oxford English Dictionary:
Manager:
'A person controlling or administering a business.'
Leader:
'A person who causes others to go with him, by guiding
and showing the way; guides by persuasion and argument.'
And
a quote that provides a useful comparison:
"Leadership
is often confused with other things, specifically
management. As I see it, leadership revolves around
vision, ideas, direction, and has more to do with
inspiring people as to direction and goals than
with day-to-day implementation. One can't lead unless
one can leverage more than his own capabilities
. . . You have to be capable of inspiring other
people to do things without actually sitting on
top of them with a checklist - that's management,
not leadership."
John Sculley
Notice
the difference in the words being used - controlling,
sitting on top of someone, administering, as opposed
to causes . . . . by guiding, showing the way, inspiring,
direction, goals.
To
focus this even more, let's look at a list of contrasting
words that describe even more fully the differences
between managers and leaders.
MANAGERS
administer
are a copy
maintain
systems/structure focus
control
short-term
how/when
bottom line
imitate
accept
good soldier
do things right |
LEADERS
innovate
are an original
develop
people focus
trust
long-range
what/why
horizon
originate
challenge
own person
do the right thing |
John Adair, a British leadership guru, continued
to explore these distinctions by going back to the
etymological roots of the two words.
Lead is from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning
a road, a way, a path. It's knowing what
the next step is. Managing is from the Latin,
manus, a hand. It's about handling, and is
closely linked with the idea of machines and came
to prominence in the 19th century, as engineers
and accountants emerged to run what had previously
been entrepreneurial businesses.
Adair goes on to make another distinction - managers
can be appointed, leaders must be ratified in
the hearts and the minds of those who work for them.
In a stable and highly structured environment it
is managers who will excel. In dynamic environments
- where change is rapid and there are few points
of reference - it is leadership that is needed.
Look at the attributes in the two lists above,
and ask yourself:
Which are most critical to achieving success,
in the situation I am in?
How do I match up to them?
Brand Manual
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