There is a difference between management and leadership. While both powerful and necessary to business development, a team with one and not the other does not easily achieve success. Strong managers and leaders may have some overlap in their skill sets. However, it is important to understand that being a manager does not make you a leader, and being a leader does not always mean you are good at managing.
By nature, managers are responsible for managing people, tasks, and organization. They generally play a more authoritative role and have a thorough understanding of their particular market and relevant technologies and policies. Leaders pave the pathway for the future. Unlike a manager, leaders create teams and followers. They set an example, and have strong emotional and social skills that lead them to develop an engaged, enthusiastic team.
The following are three skills that every good leader should possess.
They are people-centered and care about the growth of their team.
A strong leader focuses on their self-improvement in addition to their team members. To lead an engaged team, those in leadership positions need to be true to themselves and need to develop a mutual understanding of trust with who they are leading. If team members feel motivated and encouraged, they are much more likely to feel like a valuable part of the team. Unlike managers who assign tasks, leaders encourage ideas and set an example for their team.
They are creative problem solvers.
Leaders think about the future and are not afraid of taking risks. They embrace change and do not fear failure, instead seizing the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. This is in contrast to managers, who usually stick with systems that work, and seek to avoid or control problems rather than embracing them. Strong leaders have a vision and actively work to implement it.
They are excellent communicators.
Being a skilled communicator is key to building strong relationships. While an important skill for both managers and leaders, one of the biggest differences is that managers communicate through instruction, and leaders communicate the purpose and vision of their work.