Don’t Get Swept Up in Leadership—Recognize the Value of Management
Some writers might tell you that management is simply an imitation of leadership, or that leaders and managers are one and the same these days. Nothing could be further from the truth: managers can’t copy leaders—they serve two very different functions. Leaders point the way; managers develop the means for that way to be achieved. So, how […]
Why Every Non-Profit Needs a Strong Manager
Unlike many commercial organizations, non-profits do a very good job of sending the message of who they are. Non-profits have narrow focuses, and their clear visions and missions are exactly what attract employees. People come to work for non-profits because they buy into the vision; they’re dedicated and passionate about the mission. Because of this, […]
How to Balance Management and Leadership in Your Organization
With all this talk about organizations being over-led and under-managed, it can be easy to forget that, at one time, we had the exact opposite problem. Most organizations were arguably over-managed and under-led until about 30 years ago, when several academics recognized this trend. These academics started a movement that we call the leadership movement. […]
Lessons from the Field: First Comes Culture – Then Comes Change
“Complexity is suffocating our business operations. The use of obscure language and the adoption of complex processes add unnecessarily to an already complex environment.” Organizational culture is a popular topic for business leaders. It is an accepted maxim that culture management is an essential component of effective business management. But, like most business fads, corporate […]