Managers and Leaders
Leaders and managers are two different concepts. Leaders inspire and motivate people around them, while managers make decisions regarding resources, staff, and priorities.
The real value of a manager or leader is measured by their ability to amplify the work of their teams, including the ability to deliver code, architect good systems, and apply lean principles to product development and work management.
Managers have the authority and budget to make large-scale changes that are often needed to provide air cover when transformation is underway.
What are the traits of a good leader?
- Vision – A good leader has a clear idea of where the team should be in the next 5 years. They deeply understand organizational goals and know how their team can contribute.
- Inspirational communication – A good leader makes people around them proud to be part of the team. They say positive things about people’s performance, notice individual efforts, encourage people to see change as an opportunity, and inspire and motivate their teammates.
- Intellectual stimulation – A good leader challenges followers to think about problems in new ways. They encourage people to rethink their basic assumptions.
- Supportive leadership – A good leader considers the personal feelings and needs of their teammates.
- Personal recognition – A good leader recognizes employees who perform above average. They acknowledge improvements in the quality of work and compliment outstanding efforts.