How to Be Both- A Good Manager & Leader
Some assume that holding a job title with the word “Manager” in it makes someone a leader—but it does not, you can be a manager without being a leader. Management is a position bestowed upon you, which sets out roles and responsibilities, in relation to yourself and your team. Here are key skills that managers also need to develop to become an effective leader, which in turn makes anyone a better manager.
First is being able to understand the big picture vision & translate that to a team
The big picture, and the strategy behind it, should determine the goals that managers work to. Plus, context increases motivation. When we know the “why” behind something, we are likely to pursue it more meaningfully.
Secondly, actively listening is a key leadership skill
Surveys suggest that in 2020, at the start of the pandemic, employee engagement in the U.S. reached a record high. This coincided with a new way of leading, without the polish, expensive suits, and ivory towers. Leaders were honest about what they didn’t know and they were actively listening to customer-facing workers. Many successful leaders genuinely wanted to know what workers thought and what support they needed to be able to carry on with their jobs. By listening, managers can give employees the leadership support they actually need, rather than what they think their employees need. When managers listen to workers’ problems or uncertainties, their team is more likely to be open and therefore, come up with good solutions to fix problems, rather than pointing fingers.
Thirdly, communication is key for great leaders to master
Trust is a huge element in employee engagement, which has an impact on company results. It’s hard to trust others when you feel like you’re in the dark. A manager needs to know how to communicate in a way that influences people, by helping them see what’s important, and what the priorities are, not just hand out a task list. Managers should also understand the intersection between what their team wants individually and what the company needs. Where a team does not have clarity around what is expected of them, it’s hard to feel their work is meaningful. So managers should have regular check-ins and communicate expectations clearly, as well as consistently assess what’s going well and what needs improving. To really lead a strong, high-performing team, you need to be both manager and leader.
My summary
Understanding that being a manager doesn’t make you a leader, there are key skills everyone needs to develop to have in order to be a good manager and a good leader. These skills will ultimately allow for you and your team to achieve goals and be successful.
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