Comments on: Are you a Manager or a Leader?

By: Robert Charles Bartley

Robert Charles Bartley — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:16:20 +0000

Pardon the typo. I meant “mindsets”, not “midsets”.

By: Robert Charles Bartley

Robert Charles Bartley — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:14:07 +0000

Either …or scenarios like this are a disservice to rational thought and designed as a set-up to position one type of thinking over another without regard to the situation of the moment, the grand scheme of things, the problem at hand to be solved, and/or the variables influencing the problem to be solved. Both the Manager and Leader mindsets described can be effective to solve problems and achieve goals…some times independently…sometimes in conjunction with one another. Both midsets can also be used to prevent goal achievement or solution to a problem when used at the wrong time on the wrong problem. One might argue that, for example, Bill Gates’s was more of a Manager and that Steve Jobs was more of a leader, yet Bill Gates had to intervene and bail out Apple financially when Steve Jobs returned as CEO in order to help Steve to grace the world with such latter-day Apple innovations such as the IPhone and iTunes.

By: Tom omalley

Tom omalley — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:46:34 +0000

Managers do things right. Leaders do the right thing…Warren Benis.

You my dear friend and a few others were leaders in my eyes

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:07:29 +0000

Great post Tony!

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:06:54 +0000

Leaders multiply the leadership capabilities of their team. Recognize individual strengths and bring out the genius in everyone.

Seth Godin had a short bit on this back in the Fall: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/10/the-difference-between-management-and-leadership.html

By: Douglas W. Green, EdD

Douglas W. Green, EdD — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:43:06 +0000

Leaders provide vision and influence those they lead to help them work towards it. Managers deal with day to day operations, which should include some status quo and some change. In reality, school leaders need to do both. They should, however, understand which function they are involved in at a given time. Thanks for this post and keep up the good work.

By: Bruce Ferrington

Bruce Ferrington — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:35:18 +0000

A manager can get you to the top of the cliff.

A leader can get you to jump off it.

By: Kara Jacobs

Kara Jacobs — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:11:09 +0000

Great list! I do like the idea of the continuum.

Another thing that could be added to the list is: managers are fondly remembered as being good people and leaders are remembered as being visionaries ahead of the times (although many don’t realize that until years later).

Thanks for sharing,
Kara Jacobs
@karacjacobs on Twitter

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:47:21 +0000

Firstly, well done on the points of comparison between Manager and Leader. As you acknowledge, they are part of a continuum, and, at times, Lesders need to Manage!

One point I offer for consideration, and it would only be recently that I have come to this realization,, would be…. “Managers hold people to account, Leaders help build capacity of their colleagues.” Maybe the best leaders do both? Maybe, they become better leaders when they spend more time building capacity than holding people to account.

Leave it with you.

Regards,
Greg.
@gregmiller68 on Twitter

By: Blair Peterson

Blair Peterson — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:37:46 +0000

I never really thought about “make decisions then build consensus” As someone who seeks consensus it’s very possible that my mind has been made up before getting to consensus. Have to really think about that one. I also think that there is a sense of self confidence that people sense and have faith in what you’re promoting. I like to think that it comes from some internal compass. Thanks for sharing. Blair