Leading versus Managing: Two Distinct Skill-sets

A topic that comes up time and again is the difference between what is
defined as the role of a manager and what is defined as the role of a
leader. For those who sit outside of the corporate world, it may only
seem to be a trivial game in semantics. For those in the world of
organizations, the distinction between the two is not so trivial.
Many of my clients tend to be excellent managers. They are
knowledgeable and experienced in their fields of expertise. For most
of them it is a straight-forward process when it comes to managing
systems and tasks. Run process A to achieve outcome B.

As most business professional are aware there are two distinct skill-
sets - one for managing and one for leading. It is the latter that a
good majority of my clients have never had any formal training. It has
been a learn-as-you-go process. Time and again they have had to
reinvent the leadership wheel.

I think learning through experience is the fastest learning curve.
Sometimes though, gaining book-knowledge first and then applying it to
the real world can be a smoother road to learning. There may be as
many mistakes made along the way as there is with jumping into the
deep end. Although in this case, you have background theory that can
help to explain what happened.

I find that managers who want to improve their leadership skills don't
need to go hiking into a dense forest of leadership theories. What I
find is that it is tools they crave. Tools that are practical,
concrete and result specific.

From my experience and the feedback I've received from clients over
the years, these tools were, and are, the best way forward for them.
Tools of communication, psychology, delegation, decision-making and so
on.

The tools are simple to learn and are presented in a clear, step-by-
step format. In our coaching sessions, we take a current problem,
discuss it and apply the tool. The coaching session provides a forum
where they can practice, make mistakes, strategize, while building
skill and confidence.

Over time, managers pick up these more of the crucial tools and learn to use
them effectively. At some point, they have a tool box filled with a
collection of leadership tools. Over time, they become increasingly competent at applying them in different situations and circumstances.

Of course, there are always new tools to pick up at the hardware store.

Cordially
Jason W Birkevold Liem
phone: (+47) 957 66 460
email: MINDtalk@email.com
web: www.MINDtalk.no
blog: www.jasonliem.blogspot.com
twitter: www.twitter.com/mindtalkcoach