Manager and Leader are often interchangeably used. While managers are unlikely to mind this, leaders may react differently. And, between the two, there is another role.
Do you get people to do MORE? Then you are a manager. Most are in this role. Managers are always required — even in a company where a leader is thriving. They have to kick in once a leader has done his/her thing — to achieve scale, to achieve speed. But, managing is the easiest, as Seth Godin says in "Do more vs. do better."
Do you spend significant time getting people to do BETTER? Then you are doing something more important than what a manager does. You are on the verge of leadership. As Seth says, "Better is trickier than more ... it requires education and coaching and patience to create a team of people who are better."
Do you spend significant time getting people to INNOVATE or CHANGE? I don't know why Seth left this one out, but this is the most difficult role. It demands a completely different mindset, new education, and relatively much more coaching and patience to create people who will innovate, appreciate and support their team's innovation culture, and appreciate and support change. Therefore, true leaders are rare.
Do you get people to do MORE? Then you are a manager. Most are in this role. Managers are always required — even in a company where a leader is thriving. They have to kick in once a leader has done his/her thing — to achieve scale, to achieve speed. But, managing is the easiest, as Seth Godin says in "Do more vs. do better."
Do you spend significant time getting people to do BETTER? Then you are doing something more important than what a manager does. You are on the verge of leadership. As Seth says, "Better is trickier than more ... it requires education and coaching and patience to create a team of people who are better."
Do you spend significant time getting people to INNOVATE or CHANGE? I don't know why Seth left this one out, but this is the most difficult role. It demands a completely different mindset, new education, and relatively much more coaching and patience to create people who will innovate, appreciate and support their team's innovation culture, and appreciate and support change. Therefore, true leaders are rare.