The word “leadership” gets thrown around a lot these days. It seems everyone from CEOs to middle managers, and even individual contributors, are eager to label themselves as leaders. But is leadership always the right approach?
In my experience, there’s a time and place for strong, decisive leadership, but it’s not always the most effective strategy. Sometimes, what’s truly needed is good, old-fashioned management.
Let me illustrate with an example from my past: As Brand Manager and Marketing Director for a French fashion e-commerce company, we faced a perfect storm of economic headwinds. Rising raw material costs, a global economic slowdown, and increased competition were impacting our bottom line.
In that moment, “leadership” took a backseat. What was paramount was decisive action. We needed to quickly adjust our budgets, streamline operations, and make tough decisions to ensure the company’s survival. This required strong management – clear communication, meticulous planning, and the ability to swiftly adapt to changing circumstances.
Explaining the “why” behind every decision was crucial, but it had to wait. The immediate priority was to stabilize the ship and ensure the team could continue to function effectively.
This experience reinforced the idea that leadership and management are distinct, albeit intertwined, concepts.
- Leadership focuses on long-term vision, inspiring teams, fostering a positive culture, and empowering individuals. It’s about influencing and guiding others towards a shared goal. True leaders often emerge organically, earning the respect and trust of their teams through their actions and their genuine desire to serve.
- Management deals with the day-to-day operations, setting clear objectives, allocating resources, monitoring progress, and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently. Effective management is a critical skill, often undervalued in our pursuit of charismatic leadership.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen a rise in what I call “fake leaders.” These are individuals who crave the title but lack the essential qualities of true leadership – empathy, integrity, and a genuine desire to serve their team. They may possess strong management skills (or not), but they lack the vision, influence, and emotional intelligence to truly lead. Their pursuit of leadership may be driven by an inflated ego or a desire for recognition, rather than a genuine desire to inspire and empower others. While some may develop into true leaders with time and experience, their initial focus on the title itself can be a significant hindrance.
“True leadership cannot be actively sought. It emerges organically from a combination of experience, character, and the trust and respect earned from others.”
It’s important to recognize that not everyone is cut out to be a leader. Leadership requires a unique blend of skills and personality traits that not everyone possesses.
While leadership is undoubtedly valuable, it’s crucial to recognize that there are times when strong management is the more effective approach. By understanding the nuances of both leadership and management, and by appreciating the value of strong, consistent management, we can better navigate the complexities of the modern workplace and achieve our goals more effectively.
