NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
To understand the difference, we first need to define leadership and management. Leadership is changing for better results; it is challenging the status quo and looking at the long term. Management, on the other hand, is consistency for better results; it is maintaining the status quo and focusing on short-term results. Management is about completing a project on time and on budget. Leadership and management, therefore, seem to contradict each other.
Leading Take a moment to name some leaders. You may think of people like Winston Churchill, George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Vince Lombardi, and Mother Theresa. Or, maybe the names of your bosses, teachers, or family members come to mind. But, would you think of your own name? Probably not.
Usually, when we think of leaders, we consider larger-than-life historical figures, or important people who shaped our own lives, and we don't include ourselves. Give yourself some credit. You may not be leading large armies or nations, but you are leading your organization, project, or crew. The members of these categories need the same leadership that the followers of Eisenhower needed. You can be a leader too. The real question is, how well do you lead?
Take a look at the things leaders do with their time. Ultimately, the things those leaders do often revolve around 'soft skills and solutions. ' These intangible things do not come naturally to many people in the construction industry. The critical few things that leaders do are set priorities, align people, and motivate and inspire them. These are skills that can be learned and taught. Setting priorities Priorities establish what is important. There are a number of ways an organization can develop its direction.
Brainstorming and planning are two important aspects of leading an organization or a project. The key is that the leader is involved in setting this process. Someone needs to be thinking about the needs of the group for the long term. That someone is the leader.
That someone might be you. Aligning people Leaders also get people moving in the same direction by using brainstorming and planning sessions. The power of alignment is best illustrated by a comparison between a standard light bulb and a laser. Simplifying the physics, both devices emit electrons of light. In the light bulb, electrons are moving in many different directions, and they are not working together. The laser, on the other hand, is a monochromatic beam of collimated electrons that are all moving in the same direction at the same frequency and amplitude.
The result is a highly concentrated beam that has tremendous energy. While a light bulb illuminates, a laser can cut like a knife. Imagine all your people moving and working with a similar focus of energy. Motivating and inspiring Most people are motivated by something.
You can create an environment in which followers choose to be motivated in support of the direction you have set out. You create that environment by consistently walking your talk, listening, communicating, and offering praise for jobs done well. Remember the old clich'e, 'You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. ' Managing Management, on the other hand, is about the 'hard skills. ' Management focuses on the business of the business; it involves planning and budgeting, organizing and staffing, and controlling and measuring. There are far more managers in business than leaders. Even though these skills are essential to the success of any business, they are not necessarily instinctive. Managing Plans and Budgets This is what good managers do first.
They take a look at the coming days, weeks, or even year and develop plans and forecasts to address what they expect to happen. Planning outlines specific things that the company will do. Organizing and staffing As a leader, you need to understand the intimacies of the organizational structure and who is responsible for what. If the hierarchy in the structure is not important, then abolish it. If it is important, make sure it is actually works and supports the overall strategy of the company. Controlling and monitoring Once the plan is in place, processes must be established to monitor progress.
Managers should use these processes to detect problems and fix them. These processes can be measures of profitability, productivity, cash flow, etc. In any event, they are usually hard edged and clearly defined. Managers are great at identifying things that are wrong and implementing solutions to fix the problems. Unfortunately, they often apply management solutions to leadership problems.
Linking leadership and management While management and leadership are unique, there is a link between them. It is clear that different problems require different solutions at different times. Rather than being mutually exclusive, these two competencies are, in fact, interdependent. For example, once a leader articulates the intended direction, plans must be put in place to provide concrete ways to move in that direction. Once people have been hired into an organization, the structure of which was defined by a manager, a leader must align those people with a vision. Finally, the leader must motivate and inspire people to overcome the challenges that management processes of controlling and measuring have uncovered.
Mandate for the future The business person of the new millenium must be better than the business person of the 20 th century. The competitive environment has changed. The harsh reality is that customers and clients are more demanding, there is no labor waiting on the bench, and margins are thin. However, the person who can balance the seemingly contradictory skills of management and leadership is poised to step into positions of increased responsibility and impact and capitalize on these new market conditions. These same people and their organizations will then reap the rewards of being market leaders. These rewards are numerous, but better margins through a highly motivated workforce are a good start.
The ultimate rewards are for you, the leader, to determine.
Free research essays on topics related to: status quo, management and leadership, direction, light bulb, long term
Research essay sample on Management And Leadership Light Bulb
