“The difference between a business owner and a manager is having skin in the game. Let’s face it when you’re managing; you’re using other people’s money. It’s not coming out of your pocket. It’s not coming out of your blood, sweat, and tears. You are entrusted with something to look after.” Delegate Or Die, Darren Ellis.
There’s an old saying about the difference between a manager and a leader, “Management is getting people to do what needs to be done. Leadership is getting people to want to do what needs to be done. Managers push. Leaders pull. Managers command. Leaders communicate.” As leaders we are called to be responsible, accountable and decisive. So how does that differ from a manager? Here are some traits that set leaders apart from managers.

Leaders listen more and speak less. This is also in sync with knowing when to speak in a situation and when to hold your tongue. Having this skill will make it clear to your team that they will be heard and that you have done your due diligence when it comes to making a decision. Acknowledging people’s opinions doesn’t mean you follow them either; it just means you have taken their concerns into consideration when making your decision. This leads to our second trait.
Make sure you are clear on your values. Sometimes you are going to make hard decisions that are unpopular. If you are clear with how it lines up with the organisation and your values as a leader. Managers’ can sometimes be more concerned with maintaining their status and position or afraid to take ownership of the vision for the organisation. Leaders inspire followers and challenge them to new heights, to become leaders themselves leading the organisation into new frontiers.

A leader is part of the solution. A leader doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to solve problems. Being people smart and putting the right people in the right place at the right time is more important. Anyone can identify a problem, a true leader gets in amongst it and doesn’t pass the problem of managing their team off to someone else. The best leaders lead by example, they are there when the going gets tough. This doesn’t mean the leader is the solution. Using strengths-based leadership you can empower your team to be effective and encourage them to come up with a solution. Being proactive by asking what you can do to help or improve a situation for your team is just as important and is just as invaluable.

If you would like to learn more on how Shoutout! can help engage your team, book in for a live demo.