If you’re running a small business or hold a management position within a business, chances are you have a pretty good idea of what it takes to manage. Good management means you are getting things done and keeping the train on the tracks, rolling towards your business objectives. As a manager, you’re planning, scheduling, staffing, monitoring and coordinating business operations, making sure all the boxes are checked and tasks are complete.
But being a good manager does not necessarily make you an effective leader. And though every organization needs skilled management to run, a business is not likely to grow or thrive without strong leadership. To be clear, you can’t have one without the other, as strong leadership requires strong management.
In our leadership development training workshops, we talk about management as the rock-solid foundation and frame on which a business grows and leadership as the blueprint and inspiration needed to breathe life into the vision. And if the building starts to crumble, it takes leadership to cement it back together or rebuild something even better.
Visionary leaders with big ideas and contagious enthusiasm also need to be grounded enough to know innovation and growth requires strategic management to make it all happen and get things done well.
Leadership starts at the top, but it doesn’t stop there. The best leaders not only embrace their role as leader but also recognize the importance of instilling leadership qualities in their managers.
A business needs outstanding managers who are able to take a difficult or potentially disastrous situation and not only prevent it from becoming worse but turn it into a positive outcome for the company — in other words, a successful business needs managers with leadership chops.
You can’t be everywhere all the time and expect to do your best work. If you’re the only leader in your company among managers and supporting staff, you’re the bottleneck. So it’s up to you to delegate responsibilities and allocate resources in a way that empowers your managers to become effective leaders.
Yes, it’s important for your managers to make sure things get done right and on time, but they will only reach their full potential when they do so while embodying the qualities of a strong leader, such as great communication skills, integrity, decisiveness, enthusiasm, humility, cooperation, and confidence.
It’s up to you to ensure the managers and high-potential employees on your team know what it takes to be a leader and know that you expect them to grow as leaders. Only then will you be able to focus on what you do best and truly thrive.
Does your team need help developing emerging leaders? Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about our Aspiring to Leadership workshop customized for your organization.
