Throughout my career whether in business, media, politics, banking or academia I’ve been asked more questions about what makes good managers and leaders than any other topic. Many people seem to assume that being a great leader has little to do with being a great manager, but as I wrote in a previous Business Today article, all the really great leaders are also really good managers.
Management is about ensuring that processes are followed, and then making decisions when the procedure is not clear or the situation is not covered by policy or guidelines. Getting the basics correct is essential for success in any enterprise and this is why leadership can only succeed with good management. Indeed, the very best managers and leaders are able to understand that different situations require a different mix of management and leadership, so the first step to becoming a great leader is to know when to lead and when to manage. At its heart leadership is about inspiring people so that they are highly motivated to achieve whatever it is the company requires them to do, but it is management which harnesses that energy and focuses it on completing the correct tasks. Perhaps a good way to think about the difference is to see leadership as setting the direction and destination for a long road trip, and management as responsible for steering the car, following the highway code and ensuring there is enough petrol to get there.
Leaders give work meaning and at the broadest level this usually means setting out a clear and exciting vision for the organisation. Every company exists to provide something that people want and great leaders are able to express that mission in ways that engage and motivate their colleagues. Unfortunately, many leaders and many workers find it hard to connect their everyday jobs with the vision and bigger purpose of their company. This is where the best leaders can draw on their management knowledge to show their colleagues the direct link between each person’s individual efforts and the vision. Managers understand the practical tasks that need to be completed by everybody working in their team and as leaders they need to show how those tasks help to achieve the bigger purpose. Taking our road trip example, the manager understands the importance of maintaining the car throughout the journey, and the leader encourages, recognises and celebrates the efforts of the people who keep the petrol tank full, the tyres inflated, and the windscreen washed.
As in so many areas of life, the managers who become great leaders appreciate that less is often more. Managers should always avoid micro-managing their staff and learn that leadership is about delegating and empowering people to work autonomously. Great leaders make individuals responsible for their work and give them plenty of flexibility to do things in their own way providing that deadlines, quality requirements and outputs are all achieved. Most people understand their jobs pretty well and if they are trusted to work autonomously the evidence suggests that they will become more motivated and efficient. Returning to our road trip example, a trusted driver will take the initiative to pick a route that avoids both jams and tolls, and will also recommend the best place to stop for lunch.
The managers who become the best leaders are good communicators, but are also good listeners and observers. A good manager should have a good understanding of everybody in the team, what they can do, what they are best at, and what matters to them both in and outside work. The great leader sets out to build supportive personal relationships that enable every employee to do their best work and live their best life. Leaders know when to encourage and cajole, but also when to pause, ease back and listen to what others think or feel. Managers need to develop their emotional intelligence and learn how to be more flexible and adaptable in their approach and start to see people in holistic terms that include their lives outside the workplace. This does not mean intruding into private life, but it does mean acknowledging that everybody has other commitments to family, friends and community. Great leaders respect those commitments and the boundaries between them, and also know how to create situations which benefit everybody. Using our road trip example again, sometimes taking a detour to drop off a colleague or lending the car to take elderly parents to medical appointments is the right thing to do even if it means bending the rules slightly. Showing awareness and compassion makes great leaders and inspires deep loyalty and commitment from others. It also creates a sense of reciprocity which means that a good leader can count on others to help and do more than they are contracted to do when the leader needs them.
I’ve already mentioned that managers make decisions when procedures are not clear, but leaders embody the values of the business in such a way that people instinctively know what to do by thinking and acting like their leaders. Truly great leaders are great examples who behave in ways that demonstrate the values and commitment they expect from others. Great leadership takes dedication and persistence, and that is why all great leaders are good managers, because the most important thing they ever learn to manage is themselves.
By Professor Hew Gill, Associate Provost, Sunway University
