Finding Leaders in Managers

Not all managers are leaders, and not all leaders are managers. But leaders have what it takes to be effective managers. As for managers, it depends on the qualities they possess and how they put these into practice to lead their teams/organizations to success. Unfortunately, people tend to confuse them. The denotative connotative implications of these two words have blurred for so long now. Thus, as is the typical case, it takes actual experience to help determine if a manager has true leadership potentials. The same thing holds true for people possessed with good leadership capabilities. 

 

Basic Differences Identified

 

What differentiates management from leadership is that the former is a career whereas the latter is a vocation.

 

Leadership is not bound by any specific physical or mental requirements. Good leaders are not defined by their level of attractiveness, intelligence, articulateness, or any outstanding qualities. Their convictions shape them. But more importantly, they have got the brevity to uphold and implement these convictions. This implies that they have the capacity to make things happen according to what they believe is right and true.

 

Their convictions are not confined to their thoughts or aspirations alone. It is their reality, and they can make it others reality as well through influence and guidance. Leaders can become managers, and vice versa. But the transformation from manager to leader proves more challenging. A leader possessed with good mental faculties can easily acquire the skills needed to make him or her an effective manager. But a manager despite having immense skills cannot lead if he does not have the conviction and courage to set the example for his or her people to follow.

 

What It Takes to Be a Leader

 

Regardless of what specific groups of people you manage—employees, associates, teammates, and many more; how much your people trust you determine your capacity to be a leader. But how do you gain people’s trust? When people know that you will do what you can for the good of the majority, as you turn yourself into the role model they will follow, then you have won their trust.

 

Leaders cannot exercise their function if no one will follow them. But for people to follow, they have to trust him or her first. This is the first and most vital component that comprises the core of every leader.

 

A manager who is an effective leader ensures that his organization is exceeding all previous achievements in terms of quality, productivity, innovation, and revenue. He or she always finds a way to develop things for the greater good without deviating from his or her core values. He or she functions efficiently and produces income for the company as he/she leads his/her people from the front to achieve goals.