Leader, Manager or Both?

The terms leader and manager are often used interchangeably but is there a difference and what do you need for your business to be successful? In many businesses you are likely to work as both a leader and a manager. To be successful it’s important to understand and develop the characteristics, traits, skillsets and qualities each of these roles require. 

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Leadership is about getting people to understand and believe in your vision and to work with you to achieve your goals. 

Characteristics of strong leaders:

  • Honesty & Integrity – essential to have your people to believe you and buy in to the journey you are taking them on;

  • Vision - have a clear vision and be able to clearly communicate it. Knowing where you are now and where you want to be; 

  • Influence – the ability to have others agree with you and change their behaviour/thinking as a result;

  • Inspiration - inspire your team to be all they can by making sure they understand their role in the bigger picture;

  • Ability to challenge - think about things differently, challenge the everyday, have the courage to think and step outside the box;

  • Communication Skills - make sure your team know what’s happening, where you are, where you’re going, what challenges are being encountered and the successes you’ve had.

Management is about delivering the vision. 

Traits of strong managers:

  • Execution - able to take a strategic vision and break it down to the steps that need to be delivered by the team to achieve success;

  • Oversee and direct activities - ensure the resources and skills required are available when they’re needed, deliver the activities required to achieve the vision; 

  • Understand and manage risk;

  • Establish and deliver-  develop processes, standards and operating procedures to deliver to your agreed standards;

  • People Focus - look after your people, their needs, listen to them and engage them to deliver to the vision.

Leader or manager? As a successful business owner, you can – and should – be both.  

Cathy Thorpe