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Have a leading vision for your company, but have unorganized management, and have a structured system with a highly productive team, but don’t have the time to drive innovation in your business. Which do you prefer, or without? Do you have to choose between the two?
As a business owner over the past decade, I’ve learned that there’s a big difference between being a strong leader and being a disciplined manager. Not understanding the differences can be detrimental to your team and business.
A strong leader does not automatically become a strong manager.
It’s not a new concept that great leaders are bad managers. But if you’re an entrepreneur struggling with the people management aspects of running a business, it’s important to be aware of your blind spots. Anne-Marie Neal, founder of the Center for Leadership Innovation and with her 20 years of global experience in major organizations, says in her book: Leading from the cutting edge“A leader is someone who sees an opportunity and creates change. A manager is someone who follows that leader and thinks about how to structure things to create value for the company.” She adds that from her experience, “I’ve learned that the best leaders aren’t actually good managers.”
Check this out. Sometimes, the traits that make you a great visionary for your company, like being innovative or taking risks, are inherently at odds with the role of a great manager, who thrives on structure and consistency. “The majority of business leaders struggle with transitions because they don’t recognize the need for change,” says Neal. Even great leaders may not realize that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Related: What’s the Real Difference Between Leadership and Management?
know your blind spots
There’s a reason commercial aircraft require two pilots during flight.I don’t fly commercial jets, but I run a growing business and my role assignments are my Not just in their best interest, but also for “everyone on board.”
Recognizing my managerial limitations, I brought on board my wife and co-pilot, Ruth Fernandez.
Ruth has a unique talent as a corporate strategist and specializes in building a robust infrastructure for businesses. Prior to joining our company, Ruth held management and accounting positions in various industries before founding a national notary services company employing over 400 notaries and 120 contract attorneys. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the human resources and office administration departments. Her expertise and experience as a stay-at-home mom to her children make her adept at managing people and organizations. Needless to say, her joining our company has transformed our operations, increasing our revenue by 422% in less than two years.
Scale and transform for long-term business growth
We realized that two things are needed to achieve an overall balanced operation: an external and an internal element.
wonderful leader They tend to look outward. I’m always thinking about our products, our competitors, and the next big move. manager Tends to look inward. Ruth understands that we are only as successful collectively as our teams are when they are individually successful. She thinks about our structures, practices, procedures, and how to leverage the strengths of her team to achieve our company goals.
Scaling a business with the right management team also requires continuous learning. I attend monthly meetings with CEOs to network with other experienced advisors and management consultants. There is value in the “old way” mindset, but it’s impossible to stay ahead of the curve without being biased. It’s important to observe what others do, analyze market trends, and change with the times to avoid being left behind.
Related: Great managers and great leaders — which one are you?
As business owners, I think we tend to be hard on ourselves about whether or not we can fully utilize our skills as leaders and managers. But in reality, these are different skill sets, with leaders driving growth and managers extending systems. Understanding how to reconcile the two is critical to maintaining the success of your business and all of your employees.
I wish you good luck!