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Would you moderately be the leading visionary of your organization but have disorganized management, or have structured systems with a productive team but no time to innovate in your organization? Do you have to make a choice from the two?
As a business owner for the past decade, I have learned that there is a huge difference between being a strong leader and being a disciplined manager. Failure to know the difference could cost your team or company.
A powerful leader does not routinely make a strong manager
Great leaders being bad managers is not a recent concept. However, if you are an entrepreneur and are struggling with the talent management aspect of running your small business, it is necessary to acknowledge your weak spots. Annmarie Neal, founding father of the Center for Leadership Innovation with 20 years of world experience in leading organizations, writes in her book: Leading from the edge“A leader is someone who sees opportunity and sets change in motion. A manager is someone who follows that leader and sees how to organize things to create value for the company.” She even says that from her experience, she “discovered that the best leaders are not really good managers.”
It works. Sometimes the qualities that make you such a visionary for your organization, akin to innovation and risk-taking, inherently contradict the role of a good manager, who relies on structure and consistency. Neal says, “The vast majority of business leaders have difficulty making the transition because they don’t recognize the need for change.” Even great leaders may not realize that past performance does not guarantee future results.
Know your blind spots
There is a reason why business airliners require two pilots on board during flight. While I do not fly a business jet, I run a growing company and assigning roles is not just fashionable My in the best interests, but also for “all on board”.
Realizing my managerial limitations, I hired my wife and chosen co-pilot, Ruth Fernandez.
Ruth is exceptionally talented as a corporate strategist and specializes in building solid infrastructure for enterprises. Before joining our company, she held managerial and accounting positions in various industries, and then founded a nationwide company providing notarial services, employing over 400 notaries and 120 contract attorneys. Currently, he serves as the director of operations, supervising the human resources and office management departments. Her skilled knowledge, in addition to the time she spent as the mother of my children, made her naturally in a position to manage people and structures. Needless to say, her addition to our company marked a significant shift in our business, driving revenue growth by 422% in lower than two years.
Scale and transform your small business for longevity and growth
I have found that achieving holistically sustainable operations is twofold: external and internal.
Great leaders they have a tendency to look outward. I’m at all times considering about our products, competitors and what our next big move will probably be. Great managers they have a tendency to look inward. Ruth understands that together we will probably be as successful as our team individually. Thinks about our structures, practices, procedures and the best way to leverage our team’s strengths to realize company goals.
Scaling a business with the right management team also requires continuous learning. I attend monthly meetings with CEOs who need to network with other experienced management advisors and consultants. While the idea of being “old school” has value, you’ll be able to’t stay ahead of the competition without an open mind. It is value looking at the actions of others, analyzing market trends and changing with the times so as to not be left behind.
As a business owner, I think we frequently place a premium on ourselves when it involves mastering the skills needed to be each a leader and a manager. But the reality is that these are different skill sets – leaders drive growth and managers scale systems. Understanding the best way to ensure harmony between the two is crucial to maintaining the success of your organization and all of your employees.
Good luck!