LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT: Differences and Synergy (Smart Tips by Bruce Lynn)

Bruce Lynn: author of blogs on Leadership and Management’ and Turning Adversity to Advantage

By: Bruce Lynn

Bruce Lynn is the UK Server Business Group Director for Microsoft UK where he is responsible for leading the server applications tools and platforms business, in areas such as systems infrastructure and line of business (LOB) applications.

Bruce blogs on the topics of ‘Leadership and Management’ and ‘Turning Adversity to Advantage’ at http://brucelynnblog.spaces.live.com – two topics interrelated in their common thread of how people approach ‘risk.’

Leaders optimise the upside; Managers minimise the downside. Both together net more.
Leaders envision possibilities; Managers calculate probabilities. Both together win more.
Leaders focus on the ends; Managers focus on the means. Both together reach more.
Leaders focus on the what; Managers focus on the how. Both together do more.
Leaders prepare beyond the limits; Managers focus execution within limits. Both together perform better.
Leaders generate energy; Managers preserve energy. Both together energise more.
Leaders seize opportunities; Managers avert threats. Both together progress more.
Leaders are the first ones onto the battlefield; Managers are the last ones off. Both together triumph more.
Leaders amplify strengths; Managers reduce weaknesses. Both together develop more.
Leaders provide vision; Managers provide execution. Both together achieve more.
Leaders do the right things; Managers do things right. Doing both together is the right thing.
Leaders drive change; Managers maintain consistency. Both together continuously improve.
Leader/Manager distinction: “Leaders plant; Managers weed. Both together yield the greatest harvest.