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April 30, 2004

Manager or Leader?

I came across an interesting set of points by a person called Myles Munroe [unknown source] which sets out the prime differences between "managers" and "leaders". This fits with what I have always understood about corporate change - it can't be managed, it must be led.

Mr Munroe gives the following key points:

Managers administrate - Leaders innovate

Managers are copiers - Leaders are original

Managers maintain - Leaders develop

Managers focus on systems and structures - Leaders focus on people

Managers rely on control - Leaders inspire trust

Managers have a short range view - Leaders have a long range perspective

Managers ask what and when - Leaders ask what and why

Managers keep their eyes on the Bottom Line - Leaders have theirs on the horizon

Managers imitate - Leaders originate

Managers accept the status quo - Leaders challenge it

Managers are good soldiers - Leaders are their own person

Managers do things right - Leaders do the right thing

Rather sums it up, really. Perhaps this is what is wrong with our society and with all its so-called public services. They are not being led, they are being managed. Cloning is happening in the workplace, incompetent and poor management practice is what is being duplicated and cloned.

Even in politics we see the same thing; ideology is a substitute for facts and for truth. We have no leadership, we have lawyers, accountants, and trade union organisers masquerading as "leaders" when in reality they are simply "managers". The tragedy for us all is that they will drag us all down through their incompetence while deluding themselves that they are "managing" everything efficiently.

Beam me up, Scottie; the last intelligence is outnumbered by the management.

Posted by The Gray Monk at April 30, 2004 01:00 AM

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Comments

so true

Posted by: Matthew at April 30, 2004 01:15 AM