Leaders Vs. Managers

Leaders versus Managers 2

Leaders Versus Managers

Leaders or Managers is a common issue in the workplace.Years ago people would find

a job to support their family and make a career. Their loyalty and devotion was for providing

for their family and climbing the ladder. There was a shift at some point in the last twenty

years, where managers did not rise in the ranks, they were sought out. Company 's no longer

looks from within for a manager. They realized that making the person who has been with the

company the longest into the manager did not make them a leader.

At my company we struggle with leaders versus managers daily. Many managers

started with the company right out of high school and have worked their way up

Employees who are motivated to work hard will work harder than people being managed and

pushed to work hard. This is based on years of experience with manager who have moved up,

but have no idea how to lead.

Zaleznik observed that managers prefer to work with people. I can attest to this

because I am currently a department of one and I will often seek out other managers to bounce

my thoughts and ideas off of just to see how it would be received. It is hard to know if I am

getting true feedback because I am Human Resources, sometimes this causes people to react

differently or behave differently. Mostly I take my ideas to the CEO and board members, but

some idea I want to see others reactions first before I write a proclamation to the board.

Leaders versus Managers 3

Zaleznik also discussed having a sense of self. This is important to a good leader

because it ties to the decisions we make and if we believe in the choice then the employees will

too. "They can smell fear" is a true phrase, because employees can see the confidence a

manager exudes and they can sense the fear and exploit it too. If a manager shows

This was huge in shaping the type of leader I am today. I reach for my goals, get them and nail

them down, I do not believe in giving up. When I was eight years old I started going with my

grandmother to work on Saturdays to help her add payroll punch cards up and do her filing.

She would pay me ten dollars to help her for four hours. I felt accomplished and I enjoyed

helping my grandmother. Today I bring my daughter to work with me when I need to finish

some things before the next week begins, and she helps me organize papers and she is

incredible at putting address labels on envelopes.She is only four years old, but I know I am

shaping her future idea of success by allowing her to help me accomplish my goals. When we

complete the tasks we will go out to eat or go down by the river and watch the ducks, simple

payment that she will carry with her forever. Zaleznik found value in developing a person from

birth by teaching them to be a leader and having a strong sense of self will help them

accomplish the goals they set for