Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category

Today’s post will be brief and to the point. Due to the recent moves in the financial markets and the adverse actions of a credit rating agency, our economy will be in major shock when the markets opens.

Personally, I’m expecting major downward pressure on the markets and a time period for the thought leaders come to understand the meaning and future of our “new” economy.

Yet, in an attempt to point out how expectations can create a future result or happening, it is time for our business leaders to actively lead their organizations. I know several will automatically begin cutting budgets and destroying their own growth momentum. Others will take and “wait and see” attitude, waiting for the dust to settle before taking any major actions. Continue reading ‘Time for Cool and Calm Thinking’ »

I was thinking about a topic for a leadership article, yet, the news makers are all talking about the economic problems we are having – even to the point of comparing it to 2008 downturn. Well, while it is similar it is very different, if you take the time to think about everything happening during the past three months to create our economic challenges.

The talking heads and the financial writers have been using scare tactics for the past month, yet, they are still raving about our economy issues. First, please recognize the media only gets ratings and audiences for negative news. Positive news is well basically forbidden on the news today.

Look, the economy is just fine. It is the leaders of both the government and the corporate decision makers who are compounding the problem.

Realizing the issues are complex in nature, take the time to think about what has been happening for the past two – really six months. Congress and the White House have been deadlocked in a bad case of “chicken.”

Yet, the losers will not be either the White House or the members of Congress, the real losers are the people in the United States. Now, it is true that some members of the Congress will probably lose their next election due to the bad reactions from the deadlock. Yet, the reality is – people are losing jobs today due to their “leaders”  stupidity. Continue reading ‘Lack of Real Leadership Killing our Economy’ »

Got to thinking about how the business world has been turned upside down over the past three years and how the new “norms” are beginning to take shape. Then, my thoughts expanded into what new roles will the managers and leaders of organizations need to add if they truly want their people to excel and return higher levels of results?

Here are five new jobs (and old jobs for the forward thinkers in the group) for managers and leaders to guide their organizations into the new business world. And, don’t kid yourself or deny the business world has not changed – because it has. And, change will be a consistent part of your future landscape.

So, here are five new jobs for you to think about and work into your current routines and success habits. Continue reading ‘Five New Jobs for Top Managers and Leaders’ »

8 Key questions

Quick!  Get a pencil and rate yourself on these qualities:

a.  On a scale of 1- 10:   One being the lowest and 10 being the highest

b.  Be honest! Continue reading ‘How To Rate Yourself as a Leader’ »

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter Drucker

Management is more of an “action” word.   Leadership is more of a “being” word. Continue reading ‘Management versus Leadership Differences’ »

An important difference but the two work in tandem…

“Leadership and management are two distinctive and complementary systems of action. Each has its own function and characteristic activities. Both are necessary for success in an increasingly complex and volatile business environment…strong leadership with weak management is no better, and is sometimes actually worse, than the reverse. The real challenge is to combine strong leadership and strong management and use each to balance the other.”
— John Kotter, Management/Leadership Author and Professor of Organizational Behavior, Harvard Business School

Continue reading ‘Differences between Managers and Leaders’ »

A helpful way to look at the difference between management and leadership is to look at actionable words or verbs that often separate the two.   Below are some typical words that can be associated with each.

Management:

  • Short-term focus
  • Objectives
  • Controls
  • Tracks
  • Organizes
  • Follow the rules
  • Authority
  • Reactive
  • Transactional
  • Who did it?

Leadership:

  • Long-term focus
  • Vision
  • Unleashes passion in others
  • Creates change environment
  • Creates safe environment
  • Colors off the page
  • Charismatic
  • Pro-active
  • Relationship driven
  • Why not?

Again, in a well organized world both managers and leaders are necessary.  Sometimes you can move from manager to leader or from leader to manager.  A Success Habit- in most cases-is to remain in one place or the other for the majority of your time.

Do you want things done right?   Or do you want to do the right things?     The difference in these two approaches is often the difference between a manager and a leader.

A manager is often concerned with the work habits/work choices/work strategy of her subordinates and company.  For example: Continue reading ‘Management versus Leadership – Part Two’ »

A quick glance at the difference…

man·ag·er n.
1.
One who handles, controls, or directs, especially:
a.
One who directs a business or other enterprise.
b.
One who controls resources and expenditures, as of a household.

Leader: According to About.com, “A simple definition of leadership is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. Put even more simply, the leader is the inspiration and director of the action. He or she is the person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and skills that makes others want to follow his or her direction.”

Another way to look at the difference is to say:

  • Managers have subordinates
  • Leaders have followers

Both management and leadership are important.  Each level plays an important role in getting things done.  Managers focus primarily on processes whereas leaders usually focus on people.

In future posts we will look more closely at specific traits and characteristics that set managers and leaders apart.  Knowledge of the difference traits can be a Success Habit that helps set you apart!

Stage Four of Four

The top developmental skill for effective leadership is a high level of emotional intelligence.  This skill is developed and strengthened through quiet and regular reflection.  Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand emotions, particularly one’s own emotions.  “Know thyself”, proclaims the ancient Greek aphorism. Continue reading ‘Stages of Leadership – Emotional Intelligence’ »