How to Lead Effectively Without Being Just a Manager
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Understanding Leadership vs. Management
The "Monday Morning Manager" series offers insights for individuals transitioning into management roles, especially those who unexpectedly find themselves in leadership positions without prior training. Imagine going home on a Friday as a team member and returning on Monday as a manager—this scenario is more common than you think.
Many new managers, supervisors, and team leaders are thrust into their roles without guidance. Perhaps you were fortunate enough to attend a leadership course, but many others are left to navigate their responsibilities alone.
What does it mean to be a leader?
A frequent sentiment among new managers is, "I’m not a leader; I’m just a manager." This confusion is understandable.
Through my extensive experience leading leadership programs, I've encountered several recurring questions:
- "What exactly is a leader?"
- "Why should I participate in this program? I'm not part of the senior leadership team."
- "Isn’t my boss the one who leads? Isn't that their job?"
Let’s clarify these concepts.
In today's workplace, if you supervise a team, you are, by definition, a leader—regardless of your official title.
Key Traits of Effective Leaders
Leaders typically exhibit the following characteristics:
- Accept responsibility
- Take initiative
- Make informed decisions
- Resolve conflicts effectively
- Address problems proactively
- Uphold the organization's values and mission
- Inspire and motivate their team
- Show genuine care for team members
- Treat everyone with respect and courtesy
- Foster team development
- Tackle issues promptly
- Engage in self-directed learning
- Value diversity
- Commit to personal growth
- Provide necessary resources
- Recognize and reward team achievements
- Set and track team goals
- Maintain a positive outlook
- Coach and mentor team members
- Cultivate emotional intelligence
- Practice empathy
- Act with honesty and fairness
If you can embody even half of these qualities, you will surpass many leaders. As you advance in your career, you may encounter more elaborate leadership competency frameworks, but this list serves as a solid foundation.
Distinguishing Between Leaders and Managers
The behaviors listed above illustrate that leadership is fundamentally about how you interact and conduct yourself with colleagues and your team.
On the other hand, management focuses on achieving results and is often more transactional in nature. For instance, a manager might aim to process a certain number of mortgage applications daily or reach specific sales targets.
While it's crucial to ensure your team meets its core objectives, the manner in which you guide them significantly impacts your effectiveness in reaching those goals. This is the benefit of striving to be an exceptional leader.
Developing Leadership Skills
To enhance your leadership abilities, consider the following steps:
- Compile a list of essential leadership behaviors—feel free to research or consult with your supervisor to expand this list.
- Assess yourself on a scale of one to ten for each behavior.
- Select two key behaviors to focus on improving.
- Utilize resources such as the Monday Morning Manager series, online platforms like Google, YouTube, TED Talks, podcasts, and books to deepen your understanding of these behaviors.
- Explore free online leadership courses on sites like Udemy, Coursera, or edX.
- Observe and emulate the behaviors of respected leaders within your organization.
- After mastering the initial two behaviors, reassess your skills and choose two more to develop.
- Inquire whether your organization can fund your attendance at a leadership program or provide you with a subscription to LinkedIn Learning.
- Seek feedback from your supervisor and other admired managers.
The Importance of Leadership for Career Advancement
Demonstrating effective leadership will not only enhance your team's performance but also position you as a capable problem-solver who can handle conflict and make decisive choices. By pursuing training and engaging in self-directed learning, you signal to your superiors that you are committed to advancing your career.
Conclusion
Cultivating leadership skills is an ongoing journey filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. Many proficient leaders began their careers lacking these skills but were willing to learn, adapt, and evolve into respected figures.
Although the journey of leadership never truly ends, the effort is undeniably worthwhile. I hope this article has been beneficial to you. Please share your biggest challenges in leadership in the comments section.
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Additionally, check out The New Leader's Starter Kit—get your FREE copy here to learn how to conduct one-on-one meetings, provide constructive feedback, and develop professional listening skills.
Chapter 2: Videos on Leadership
In this chapter, we will explore useful video resources that delve deeper into the concepts of leadership and management.
This video, titled "How To Be a Leader And Not a Manager," provides valuable insights into distinguishing between leadership and management roles, emphasizing the significance of adopting a leadership mindset.
The second video, "How to become a better manager at work - 3 simple tips to grow into a great leader," offers practical tips for those looking to enhance their management skills while fostering leadership qualities.