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Leadership versus ManagementLeadership versus Management - there is a world of difference between the two. Between the focus and the types of results achieved. Life is rapidly changing and so too the way you influence people must be able to shift rapidly to meet the new requirements. To get a sense of how much change is in store for us, consider how different life was in 1982, only a few decades ago.Reagan was President in the US, The Berlin Wall was still up and the Cold War was still waging, Falklands War was being fought, Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes were singing "Up there Where We Belong", it was the start of a world-wide recession, Prince William was born, Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Mark Ella became captain of the Wallabies, Tootsie & Ghandi were on at the movies, M.A.S.H was still on t.v, we'd never heard of test-tube babies, the El Nino of 1982 was the most severe in the 20th century, the Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 50th birthday by allowing 500,000 people to walk across her, the Twin Towers stood tall on the New York skyline. And, at work...
So, what do the next 10, 15, 20 years hold? One thing is for certain the way you are managing and leading today is going to be different - if it isn't you will probably be left behind. Today you are probably expected to:
In order to do this and more, you may need to make some shifts. The table below lists some key distinctions. Some of them you may like to implement in your workplace. Leadership versus Management:
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Low Performance | High Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| Maintaining status quo | Leading the charge for continuous improvement | A business created for today vs A business designed for the long-term |
| Dumping change on people | Involving people in the change process and helping them to understand why | Like it or lump it vs Together we can make this transition easier and quicker |
| Tolerating low performance | Accepting only High Performance | I don't want the hassle of dealing with you vs The better Leader I am the better you will be |
| One Management Style fits all | Flexibility of Leadership, asking people how to best lead them | My way or the highway vs How can I help you be your best? |
| Avoiding staff problems | On-time feedback about performance | Maybe it will go away vs Every player in this game is important |
| Patronizing, Critical, Gossiping, | Always Speaking with Integrity | I am your judge vs With my constructive support you can improve |
| Solving problems well - but often in crisis state | Anticipating Problems | Busy, busy, busy vs Strategically working on the business |
| Focussing on weaknesses | Having people work in roles in which their strengths can be maximised | You have to fit your job vs Which roles/tasks here best suit you |
| Asking a person to improve/change | Seeing the greatness in a person and asking them to step up to their potential | You aren't good enough vs There is so much more to you |
| Expecting compliance | Providing reasons, seeking debate and input, responding to feedback | Changes made with poor implementation vs High acceptance of and excellent implementation of change |
| "I'm watching you" | "Do you have all the resources you need" | Distrusting Boss vs Trusting Resource |
| "It's your job, so get on with it" | "Tell me how I can help you succeed" | Employees having to vs Employees wanting to |
| Source of recognition and approval | Source of Endorsement and Challenge | People needing your approval vs People seeing you as the person who creates opportunities for them to grow |
| Fear based Environment | Safe, Love based Environment | "I can't, in case I get in trouble" vs "Let's give it a try and see what we learn" |
| Creating Push Environment | Creating a Pull Environment | Employees avoiding responsibility vs Employees feel confident to seek responsibility |
| Focusing on the past | Perfecting the Present | Focused on fear vs Focusing on what we can do right now |
| Working in the Business | Working on the Business | Focused on today vs Focused on today and the future |
| Reacting to Senior Management | Managing Up | I have little/no control vs I can influence our future |
| Giving in to failure, disappointment | Resiliently creating new opportunities, where none seem to exist | Victim vs Self-Responsible |
| Pretending to care about people | Deeply caring about people | Manipulation vs Love |
| Manage by rules | Lead by principles | Decisions made on history vs Decisions made on the situation at hand |
| Motivate through competition | Motivate through co-operation | Struggling against vs Working together |
| Content with static skills | Creates the space for personal growth and development | Stagnant vs Enriching Learning Organisations |
| Focus on short-term results | Focus on immediate and big picture | Keeping head above water vs Strategically set for the future |
| Systems that create people who know how to perform tasks | Creating systems that enable people to handle information and knowledge | I'm doing my job vs I am a business owner |
| Wanting people to rely on you for answers | Expecting people to be their own solution centre | Ego-centred Manager vs Breakthrough Leader |
| Doing it by yourself | Understanding the importance of having someone coach you to a higher level of performance | Same results vs Continuous self-growth and improvement |
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