Leader or a Manager? Which is most effective?

As I was given leadership opportunities, I had no idea what being a leader entaile4d . I thought being a leader meant you were the person in control that tells others what to do. I thought that it meant that I would need to work harder than everyone and have to be the expert on everything. I was so naïve and wrong.

It wasn’t until I became an assistant principal and decided to work on my doctorate that I understood what being a leader was. For most of my leadership experience as a teacher, I was the take charge and get it done person. People came to me to get their problems solved. About my fifth year as an assistant principal, I was able to identify key attributes that I needed to focus on if I wanted to be a more effective leader. Prior to that fifth year, my actions were those of a manager.

My experience has taught me that a manager gets things done. They create check list and they accomplish tasks. They can take an idea and get you from A to Z. Managers take the initiative and are most often problem solvers. Managers are hard workers and will do it themselves if they feel the job isn’t being done right.

Leaders on the other hand, build capacity in others so that those around them can learn and grow. They build capacity by delegating and coaching. Managers may get things done, but leaders have the vision or dream about where we are headed. Leaders understand that there is a time to lead, a time to follow, a time to speak, a time to be silent and listen, a time to model, a time to allow exploration, etc. Leaders inspire and are a light to others.

Leadership is complex and you have to decide what kind of leader you need to be. There are a variety of leadership styles that can be studied. You may find that your strengths fall mostly within a specific type. Does that mean you should lead from that understanding or seek strategies that will support your current situation? Join me in this conversation where we will explore leadership topics. Do you want to be a manager or a leader?

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