It is a question which I get asked a great deal, especially during training and coaching sessions.
In essence, the difference is about your energy.
A leader leads people.
A manager manages things.
A leader has followers. This means they inspire people to move in the direction in which they are travelling. They lift up people by connecting with them and sharing a vision of a better future, such that those followers are compelled to move towards that future destination, with their hearts and minds (and their bodies of course!)
This inspiration is based in the energy a leader creates from that connection. Inspiration comes from the latin “spiriture”
inspire: – verb, to inspire
to spur on: impel, motivate. Threats don’t necessarily inspire people to work. b. : to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on.
From the Latin spiriture – to breathe.
To lead you need to “breathe life into people”.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary.
It is often said that the mark of a great leader is what happens when that leader is not around. How do people behave when the “cat’s away”?
Leaders are forward-looking and focused on the big picture.
They are planning for the strategic objectives and step back from the day-to-day operations. They connect and communicate.
They are focused on the things within their sphere of control and they have influence.
Managers take care of the day-to-day objectives. They manage processes and systems. They have more administrative tasks. This is crucial because this skill provides evidence for keeping everyone safe.
This safety is paramount.
It includes all employees plus the reputation of the whole organisation.
It is especially important when due diligence is needed to be proven.
It’s not true to say that leaders do not have administrative task to carry out. I would argue though, that this would be best delegated.
From my experience there are managers who have leadership qualities.
All leaders have management skills.
My main interest in with leaders who want to develop into transformational leaders, which relies on utilising coaching skills when necessary .
All coaches are leaders. Not all leaders are coaches! (Yet!).
A huge element of great leadership is about creating a lasting legacy of good work so that all others following can say they have achieved their best and reached their full potential.
Great leaders create more leaders.
I love the work of Jim Collins, author of two “must-read” books on great business leadership ‘Good to Great’ and ‘Built to Last’. A small snippet from Jim Collins on leadership is bear in mind is based around the question:
Are we willing to strive for Level 5 Leadership, and to embrace the 10X behaviours needed to build a great company or social enterprise?
If you’ve read Good to Great you will know what this means, if not you better had get on with it! What type of leaders can take an already good company and move it forwards to a massive uplift in results? You’ll be surprised by the findings. It’s not those “all singing, all dancing” charismatic leaders parachuted in. It’s more likely to be those diligent, earnest and humble leaders. When things go right they praise the team sincerely. When things go wrong they look in the mirror, taking personal responsibility for failure. The success of the business is more important that the personal ego.
My 13 years’ of coaching leaders has highlighted this to be a key point. When the ego gets in the way then leadership is ruined.
I always remind myself of my favourite quote around leadership
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When the work is done, they will say “We did it ourselves”.”
— Lao Tze
So, in answer to the question posed at the top.
A leader is someone who inspires people and connects with hearts and minds through the power of effective communication and excellent coaching skills.
My mission is to be part of the change required in today’s business world. I hope to coach leaders to become the best version of themselves so that they can lead effectively in the Kindness Economy
My vision
The Kindness Economy prevails.
People, Planet & Profit are valued equally.
Transformational leadership & trust-based relationships are paramount.
Please get in touch if this resonates with you.