MANAGER MINT MAGAZINE Issue 03 | Page 15

4. Outcomes

Leaders challenge the system, the marketplace, and the people. Leaders produce change.

Managers produce predictability and a sense of order. Managers don’t always seek to produce change, but rather are more comfortable in maintaining the current.

While at Apple, Steve Jobs challenged everything and everyone by producing change at an incredible level. Among others, his vision changed the music industry, the cell phone business, digital publishing, animated movies, and tablet computing.

5. Focus

Leaders are concerned about how effective the outcome is for the firm.

Managers are considered with how efficient the operations are.

Jack Welch was also known for his mantra at GE that any business GE was involved in would be number one or two in its field or would be eliminated. Whether you agreed with him or not, he clearly articulated his vision and the goal and kept focus on the outcomes.

6. Time-Frame

Leaders are about the long-term, innovation and taking risks.

Managers are more about the short-term, avoiding risks, and maintaining operations.

Lee Iacocca is credited with turning Chrysler’s fortunes around with his strong leadership skills. Iacocca said that one of the key attributes of leaders is the ability to make tough decisions without fear. While he trusted his subordinates, he also defined his style of management by consensus.

“Consensus is when we have a discussion. They tell me what they think. Then I decide.”

Leaders must be bold and decisive and unafraid of risks. Conversely, some managers fail to understand the risk of not making a decision.

Leadership takes discipline, commitment, and guts to create a vision, gather the right team, and the ability to motivate, inspire, and create followers. Through this personal commitment, leaders influence others in order to maximize their efforts and achieve the goals.

Author: Paul Dughi

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