In one of our Leadership Cohort sessions the group of leaders were discussing the difference between managing and leading.  To help leaders understand the difference between the two, I tried an experiment. See how it played out.

This Week’s Edition

The difference between management and leadership through the lens of an “expert.”

Clarify Your Thinking

Leaders may have several thinking issues about the difference between leadership and management, including:

1. Confusing the two concepts: Leaders may view leadership and management as interchangeable, failing to recognize the unique qualities and skills required for each.

2. Underestimating the importance of management: Leaders may focus too much on the inspirational and visionary aspects of leadership, and may overlook the critical role that effective management plays in achieving organizational goals.

3. Overemphasizing the importance of leadership: On the other hand, leaders may place too much emphasis on their own leadership abilities, and may not recognize the value of delegating tasks to skilled managers who can ensure that operations run smoothly and efficiently.

4. Failing to develop management skills: Leaders may assume that their leadership skills will suffice for managing a team or organization, and may not take the time to develop the specific management skills required for effective resource allocation and coordination.

5. Viewing management as a hindrance to innovation: Leaders may see management as a rigid, bureaucratic process that stifles innovation and creativity, and may fail to recognize that effective management can actually facilitate innovation by ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately and risks are managed effectively.

Overall, it’s important for leaders to recognize the unique roles and responsibilities of both leadership and management, and to develop the skills required for both in order to effectively guide their organization towards success.

Thoughts Lead to Actions

To effectively discharge their duties as both a manager and a leader, here are some actions that leaders can take:

1. Develop management skills: While leadership skills are important, leaders also need to develop the specific management skills required to effectively allocate resources, coordinate tasks, and achieve organizational goals. This includes skills such as planning, organizing, delegating, and controlling.

2. Inspire and motivate: Leaders need to inspire and motivate their team or organization to work towards a common goal. This can be achieved through effective communication, recognition and rewards for good performance, and leading by example.

3. Continuously learn and adapt: Successful leaders are always learning and adapting to changing circumstances. They stay up to date with industry trends and developments, seek out feedback and new ideas, and are open to change when necessary.

By taking these actions, leaders can effectively discharge their duties as both a manager and a leader, and guide their team or organization towards success.

Note from Robin: Starting with the Clarify Your Thinking Section, this newsletter was written by ChatGPT. This week’s news was dominated by the potency of AI. In fact, top technology leaders are concerned and calling for a six month pause on AI. The rest of us are just beginning to question AI’s impact on our our role as leaders. I thought I would investigate. Can AI be a better coach than me? Can AI write a more persuasive newsletter? You be the judge.

Boost Your Performance

Watch this week’s video to get my take on ChatGPT’s performance related to writing this edition of The Confident Leader newsletter. Find out whether I think it’s a threat to your role as a leader of your organization.

What’s Your Opinion?

What do you think of the quality of this week’s newsletter? What did you like? What was missing? Share it with me at robin.pou@robinpou.com.

If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!

Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist

We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders. 

Let’s Connect

Follow me on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.

What is “The Confident Leader”?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.