“Are you a Manager or a Leader?” One of the most interesting topics discussed during our organization analysis class. These two words may sound very common but they are usually used interchangeably in the organization. Managers and Leaders have distinct traits but they said that the two are inseparable, complementary. Too much leaders is not healthy and it should be balanced by manager’s organizing ability.
A question popped from the crowd, if we are to choose between leaders or managers to be employed in the company, who would it be? I thought and told myself that it actually depends on the size of the company. If it is still starting, they can just have a Manager that can both work as Manager and Leader. This is where we once were until the company grows and need more people who can lead their people to the company’s goals. Then a flash of the Support Department from our company suddenly came to me, which I consider the best example to get me to understanding. This department has a Manager; with teams each led by Team Leaders. Their Manager acts as problem-solver and a planner. She checks the department’s human resources, sees any problems and seeks solutions, plans and envisions future growth, and coordinates efficiently with the top-level management. Team Leaders on the other hand, I noticed, are charismatic and proactive. They are more socially inclined to their members while at the same time maintaining a balance of their seniority. From our reporting tools, CMS and Bugzilla, I can see their drive and excitement with their work. They closely assist their team members on their tasks and make them more at ease with work.
At the time I throw the question to myself, I asked, yes, what am I? Manager or Leader? At some point I get to ask, I have the position of a Manager but do I act like I am? Or am I more of a Leader? So I need to evaluate some characteristics for both before I can finally say, I am either or both.
Of the many characteristics, I picked six (6) that I think have stronger distinction for both.
Focus. Leader is focused on leading people while Manager is focused on managing work. But honestly I’m torn between the two. I can sometimes be focused on motivating and persuading staffs to do their best, asked them if there is anything I can do to help them, or get their concerns so I can guide them to do better and hit our schedules. And I can work as Manager where I need to manage everything in the department, reassign workloads for balancing and scheduling, and make sure that the team is leading to where it should suppose to go.
Dynamic. Leader is proactive while Manager is reactive. Let’s try first to define both of these terms. Proactive is “acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty” while reactive is “tending to be responsive or to react to a stimulus.” Where do I fit in? At times I am proactive but when there is more idleness, I am reactive. Proactive in the sense that when there are projects (systems) to develop and needing scheduling, I am a critical thinker, all possible cases that may happen in the future I lay down on cards. For the past six (6) months I have been proactive since there are three (3) big products under PHP rewrite. And with the current manpower, I have to build strong and determined team members. And with lesser “idle” times in the company, I am a less “reactive” person.
Decision. Leaders are open to their followers and let them help in the decision-making process. Managers on the other hand make decisions by themselves. So between the two, I am more of a Manager. I find it time consuming to include the group in the decision-making process. What I usually do is write down the plan and present it to them. It’s no longer interactive, but a one-way communication.
Exchange. Leaders have excitement for work while Managers do work for money. Managers get the position usually with the appointment from higher authority. They are paid more to higher responsibilities and this is their drive. Leaders on the other hand are innately work-driven by their passion for work.
Wants. Leaders want achievement. Managers want results. And I am a result-oriented person. I believe that there is improvement in one’s responsibilities if they are able to get results done in a timely manner. Achievement, like increase in the learning curve, like for QA procedures, is good but it is more important for me to have results done.
Conflicts. Leaders are open to conflicts and consider them challenges for a more efficient workforce. Managers on the other hand avoid them. They always want everything to go smoothly which sometimes bring them in mediocrity.
Now going back to the question, “Are you a Manager or a Leader?”. I can be both when circumstances need me to act to. But to be honest, having been placed as Manager is a difficult task. You do not only act as Manager, but you need to act as a Leader to get your subordinates be your followers, especially when finding leaders at your own department is hard to do. Now I agree that both manager and leader are inseparable, likewise for policies and human resources.
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