One of the lessons learned from me about leadership is that you are constantly evolving as a leader. Taking some time to reflect back on your leadership style and if you are having the intended results is critical to leadership. Another lesson learned that is that often people focus on making a distinction between “managing” and “leading.”
Traditionally, managing is viewed is all the logistics, coordination and planning of a project, while leading is viewed as the way a direct inspires, motivates and connects with a team. There are endless resources that look to identify the differences between management and leadership. Often, the lines are blurred and the analysis is subjective. I think there are some key distinctions between leading and managing, and in my opinion, they are not really mutually exclusive of each other. A good leader is simultaneously a good manager and a good leader.
So quickly, here are my top 5 traits for a good manager and a good leader.
Leader
- Leads By Example
- Solid Moral Compass
- Inspirational
- Holds Herself/Himself Accountable – Humility
- Will take a calculated risk
Manager
- Meets Deadlines
- Holds People Accountable
- Knowledge of Content
- Knows What is Driving Cost
- Sets targets, goals, objectives and creates process to track and monitor goals
What do you believe is the difference between a manager and a leader? What are the key traits for each?
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