It is amazing to me that many of the business leaders that I meet view the achievement of getting their name on the door or moving into the corner office as a destination.
I’ve been in ‘management‘ positions since I was 18 years old, quite often ‘managing‘ people who were older than me. I’ve been in several different positions. In one I was responsible for several hundred employees, in another led a group of mixed union and non-union employees and in another coordinated paid and volunteer employees who worked side by side.
I have those two words in the previous paragraph in quotes specifically to call your attention to them. I actually don’t use them, in fact the words management, manager, boss all really bother me.
Managers tend to protect themselves, insulate themselves and take credit if it serves them or play duck and cover when things go bad. In my opinion, if you’re going to be effective in business you can’t manage, you have to LEAD. You have to lead a team of co-workers, not boss them around. Leadership to me is actually almost an art form, in many companies it’s becoming a lost art.
What’s the difference you ask, isn’t it just semantics? Actually there is a huge difference. Management to me is simply the act of moving people around within the confines of existing policies, practices and basically maintaining the status quo.
Leadership, is a dynamic process of inspiring people, setting a good example, getting people involved in the process, creating change when necessary and empowering your team to handle things that come up. Leadership, if not claimed by the example by the owners/officers of a company, will be claimed by members of middle management or staff…people in every organization want to follow a leader…they hate being managed.
In the movie Heartbreak Ridge, Clint Eastwood plays rough, veteran Marine Gunnery Sergeant Highway who’s gone into battle with a newly minted Lieutenant Ring (direct supervisor) and an ego-centric Major Powers (upper management) who’s out to get him. His leadership saves the platoon but earns him the rath of the Major.
The background is that the Major is a manager…trying to protect his turf and get ahead at the abuse and expense of others…when questioned about what happened he tries to blame others rather than take pride in their work and give credit where it’s due…here’s my favorite exchange of the movie:
(Courtesy of the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com )
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: [approaching Highway] Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?
Highway: Just enjoying the view, sir.
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Well, you disobeyed an order. I told you to stay in contact and not take this hill without me. Damn it! Get on your feet, Highway!
Highway: With all due respect, sir, you’re beginning to bore the hell out of me.
[sees the helicopter landing and Colonel Meyers getting out] (The Big Boss)
Colonel Meyers: Who’s in charge here?
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: I am, sir. Major Malcolm Powers.
Colonel Meyers: Did you lead this assault?
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Sir, Lieutenant Ring and Gunnery Sergeant Highway disobeyed a direct order. I told them to wait for support but they went up this hill anyway.
Colonel Meyers: [to Highway] Why?
Highway: We’re Marines, sir. We’re paid to adapt, to improvise.
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Sir, I gave the order to take this hill.
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Ring, this is going to ruin your career.
Colonel Meyers: Are you new to the infantry, Major?
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Yes, sir. Just came over from supply.
Colonel Meyers: Were you good at that?
Maj. Malcolm A. Powers: Yes, sir!
Colonel Meyers: Well then, stick to it because you’re a walking cluster f#@k as an infantry officer. My men are hard chargers, Major! Lieutenant Ring and Gunny Highway took a handful of young fire pissers, exercised some personal initiative and kicked ass!
[to Lt Ring]
Colonel Meyers: Good job, Lieutenant!
Lieutenant M.R. Ring: Thank you, sir!
Think about the way you handle your day to day business, do you manage or lead?
Do you assign tasks to others that you consider beneath you?
Are you dealing with personnel issues, turnover, training and morale? How many did YOU cause?
Do you take credit or give praise and credit?
So…be honest with yourself…would you work for you?
