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To be successful you must learn how to manage and lead

By Yetunde A. Odugbesan-Omede, Ph.D
04 December 2017   |   3:16 am
There is a difference between management and leadership. There are some people who are great at managing things, managing systems and processes in the workplace.

There is a difference between management and leadership. There are some people who are great at managing things, managing systems and processes in the workplace. Some are even great at managing the technicalities of their own lives, their day-to-day personal schedules. Others are great at leading. They are visionaries and can communicate their vision. They have the ability to empower people to achieve a goal. They have a natural zeal to inspire and build morale among people, whether within the workplace or in their personal lives. Leadership and management, however, are not the same.

There is nothing worse than having someone who only has managerial skills to lead an organization. And there is nothing worse than having a leader who only has lofty leadership skills in a position that requires management style approaches. Management is defined as, “The act of coordinating the efforts of people or resources to accomplish desired goals and objectives as human action, including design, to facilitate the production of useful outcomes from a system.” Managing people means that you are going to be responsible for the work of others. Effective management requires a balancing act. Its purpose is to ensure that people’s values and institutional goals are in sync. There are certain skills needed in order to effectively manage people no matter the setting:

Conceptual skills
– the ability to understand the relationships among the various tasks of an institution.
Interpersonal skills
– the skills necessary to communicate with one’s congregations, supporters, employees, volunteers or staff.
Technical skills
– skills used to perform specific day-to-day tasks.
Decision-making skills
– skills for using information to determine how the institution’s resources should be allocated.

Now that we have defined what management is, let’s discuss leadership. Leadership has nothing to do with seniority or one’s position in the hierarchy of an institution. Leadership has nothing to do with titles. Leadership has nothing to do with personal attributes. Leadership is not management. Leadership is a process of social influence, which organizes or maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. Management is the process of implementing that vision. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.

In a nutshell, the difference between leadership and management is this: Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow, ie., a leader is the spearhead for that new direction.

Management controls or directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established. Organizations, churches, institutions and more suffer when they appoint a leader who only manages or appoints a manager who is expected to lead but does not know how to.

The question is not to lead or manage, it’s finding the balance and ability to do both. WE need both.We need to be leaders who can manage, and managers who can lead. Leaders and Managers need to be able to inspire others and implement ideas, innovate and create, and figure how to manage the process.

Here are five tips on how to successfully manage and lead:
Develop Trust and Credibility
When people trust you, they will be more inclined to follow you. A leader builds trust by considering the “good of all” when making decisions. Leaders do not abuse their power, but build trust by using it properly.

Share the Vision with Absolute Clarity
Leaders in any institution need to share the vision of what they want their institution, university or company to achieve. To get others to see and understand your vision, you need to motivate and inspire with the same enthusiasm and positivity you have inside you.

Coaching and Listening
Great interpersonal skills are vital for a successful leader/manager. Coaching is extremely important.
It’s important to give those you are coaching feedback on their performance with observations and good advice. Listening is a key quality. Let your team or employees share their ideas, concerns, and know you are approachable and caring.
Make the Decisions and Be Held

Accountable
You also need to know when it is better to follow, rather than lead, by trusting your team’s suggestions. Leaders realize they don’t know all the answers and earn respect when they seek advice from others when needed.   

Maintain Composure
The objective of every leader /manager should come with the mindset of striving for “mission accomplished.” Good composure is key to maintaining control and keeping things going in the right direction.

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