PMETH

For those of you in a managerial role, this principle is critical if you want to advance in your career and it is this – people don’t want to be managed.  They want to be led.  Whoever heard of a world manager?  World leader?  Yes.  Political leader.  Religious leader.  Community leader.  Labor leader.  Business leader.  Yes.  They lead.  They don’t manage. 

If you’ve taken the time and energy to get the right people in your organization, they won’t need to be managed.  If you want to manage somebody, manage yourself.  Do that well and you’ll be ready to stop managing and start leading.

You cannot lead others if you cannot manage yourself.  Is your office a wreck?  Are you late for meetings?  Is your attire sloppy or unprofessional or outdated?  Are you constantly missing deadlines?  This is critical; you cannot lead others if you cannot manage yourself.  

Managers make sure the work gets done by others.  That’s what most managers do today; they make sure the work gets done.  But inspiring others to do better work is the accomplishment of a leader.  Helping people become better than they are today is the accomplishment of a leader.  The ability to make people want to make extraordinary things happen by doing more than what is merely expected is the accomplishment of a leader.

Management and leadership are both important though.  Leadership complements management, it doesn't replace it. You need a solid balance of management and leadership skills to reach your greatest potential.  We all know that businesses would spin out of control without good management.  In fact many managers are successful today and preside over thriving organizations.  But the difference between being merely successful and reaching one's greatest potential is staggering and leadership makes up the difference.

People Make Extraordinary Things Happen! ^™