Good Leadership Skills versus Good Management Skills

There is a difference between having good leadership skills and good management skills . Both are important to the success of a business, but in my humble opinion one wins out over the other.

In order to be a good leader you must have a vision of where you want to take an organization. You must see the end result in your mind!

In order to be a good manager you must be able to take that vision and manage all the necessary resources to get the organization there.

Now don't mistake a leader for someone that has a pipe dream! I'm not suggesting that someone with good leadership skills sits around all day dreaming of what should be! Not at all! Good leadership requires a person to understand the realities of the organization. That could mean anything from the financial condition to the amount of talent on hand. A good leader can recognize what talent they have and what is necessary to get the organization to the next level.

As an example if a great coach takes over a team that does not have the talent to get to the next level they inspire those around them to see the vision they have. That vision may include everything from the next draft to who is immediately available!

On the other hand the person who has good management skills puts the plan into action. They set the schedule and organize the people to make the vision a reality.

In many cases someone with good leadership skills also is blessed with good management skills . This is the best of both worlds. But the reality is that is not always the case.

The difference between a good leader and a good manager is how they would get a large stubborn bull into a barn that the bull does not want to go into.

Someone with good management skills might hire a team of cowboys to evaluate the situation and determine the best way to get the bull into the barn. That might include roping the bull and pulling them into the barn against their will. It might include getting into a large vehicle and pushing the bull into the barn. In any case they would determine the best method and then work toward the goal of moving the bull into the barn. The manager would manage the budget and human resources necessary to make all this happen. The down side to all of this is that the bull once in the barn still doesn’t want to be there.

On the other hand the person with good leadership skills will figure out a way to motivate the bull to want to go into the barn completely on its own and be happy staying there. That might mean leading the bull into the barn with a bucket of oats. That might mean putting a really attractive cow (ha ha) in the barn.

Two different ways of thinking! However one way has a better chance of maintaining the intended goal!

So do you see yourself as someone that sees things as they should be? Can you inspire others to see your vision? If so, you are potentially a person with good leadership skills!