Speak with anyone who has spent time studying management sciences and a theme will become clear regarding the difference between management and leadership. Managers primarily cope with complexity in an organization; leaders, on the other hand, primarily cope with change in an organization.
To illustrate this distinction, think of the military. During peacetime the military is shepherded by managers, men and women gifted with the ability to track and control the innumerable variables involved in supporting thousands of soldiers, supply chains and other resources. At war, however, the front lines are controlled by leaders, then men and women that can grasp the continually changing variables of the battlefield. Wars are won by the army that can, through strength of management, supply the greatest force, and, through leadership, apply that force to their advantage.
Today’s business environment demands that employees at every level be able to respond quickly and decisively to change. Depth of skill is no indicator of leadership ability, a fact that more employers seem to recognize as they opt for pre-employment screening via personality tests designed to identify leadership traits.
type twelve believes in the value of decisive leadership. Every company, large or small, faces the challenges of change, and it is every employee’s responsibility to meet those challenges. Contact us to find out more about how type twelve can provide leadership in your company.