Frequent readers know that I am not a devotee of Warren Bennis, who famously propagated the idea that leaders and managers are not only different, but that ‘leaders’ are higher on the food chain possessing far more value than the lowly manager.
I have devoted numerous posts to dispelling this attitude (See series starting here.), much like Don Quixote tilting at his windmills. (It’s not a new attitude; I’ve had a statue of Quixote and Sancho Panza for years:)
I was discussing this over lunch with several executives and voiced my thought that no manager at any level can function successfully in …read more

One of the most important things to keep in mind as you study and work to develop your personal leadership abilities, the ones you’ll use throughout your life, whatever you’re doing and no matter the position, is that they’re neutral.
That’s right, leadership skills and abilities are without prejudice, neither good nor bad—you might say they swing both ways.
According to Warren Bennis, a leader innovates, develops, focuses on people, inspires trust, has a long-range perspective, keeps an eye on the horizon, originates, and is his own person.
Does that sound like someone you’d like to emulate? Because it’s a perfect description of …read more

According to Warren Bennis there are 13 differences between leaders and managers. We previously discussed whether the modern workforce can actually be managed without doing both.
Last week we talked about being an original; now let’s look at something that underlies several of the items on Bennis’ list.
Among the 13 things that leaders do are investigate reality, ask what and why, and challenge the status quo. They may sound different, but the same action underlies each one.
The ability to do all three of these means that you do not make assumptions (the ‘A’ in AMS).
What will you find if you …read more

In a post last spring, I listed Warren Bennis’ leadership skills and in 7 follow-up posts discussed why today’s managers find it hard to do their job without these skills.
But, in fact, everybody needs them in today’s world; they’re the skills that help you live a better life, raise kids and make a better world—no matter who you are or what you do.
Many of my posts touch on the same facts, but we’ll zero in on more how-to information in this series.
Bennis says that “leaders are originals, whereas managers are copies,” but what does that mean to an individual?
Foremost, it …read more

Post from Leadership Turn  Image credit: danzo08  CC license
It’s not unusual for me to come up with what I think will be a great post and then find someone else thinking about the same thing.
Last Thursday I was sorting through ‘leadership’ articles and blog posts, once again disgusted with all the references to ‘leader’ and ‘leadership’ that had little to do with leading and much to do with position.
Suddenly the proverbial light bulb went on and I realized that I could actually define my version of leadership without using the l-word (I hate words that are defined using variations of …read more

Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: Sam UL
After all this talk about the need for managers to possess strong leadership traits, I have another question for you.
According to Warren Bennis’ list, a leader

innovates;
is an original;
develops;
focuses on people;
inspires;
investigates reality;
long-range perspective;
asks what and why;
eye on the horizon;
originates;
challenges the status quo;
is his own person;
does the right thing.

What percentage of these traits is possessed by the people you see who are termed leaders?
“Influence” has become the hallmark of leadership. What percentage of these traits is possessed by those around you who influence?
We need to hear from you; your experience is invaluable.
Your comments—priceless
Don’t …read more

Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: lusi
This is a summing up in a series discussing whether Warren Bennis’ 13 differences between leaders and managers still holds in light of today’s modern workforce.
In a comment on the prequel to this series Phil Gerbyshak said, “I agree wholeheartedly that great managers have BOTH qualities…though I know plenty of average managers who don’t have either. I’d like it required that managers have at least one half of Bennis’ qualities in order to lead a team. Is that too much to strive for?”
On day one Nii said, “Regarding the differences between a manager …read more

Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: lusi
Today is the the final difference between leaders and managers as delineated by Warren Bennis, then tomorrow we wrap up the question with an overview of the two roles in the light of today’s modern workforce.
The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.
Great sound bite, but I think it’s both meaningless and insulting. Ignoring the fact that ‘the right thing’ is situational, why is doing it strictly the purview of leaders? Does doing the wrong thing correctly make it OK?
What do you think?
Your comments—priceless
Don’t miss a post, subscribe via …read more

Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: lusi
This is the fifth in a series discussing whether Warren Bennis’ 13 differences between leaders and managers still holds in light of today’s modern workforce.
The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader has his or her eye on the horizon.
In today’s global workplace managers who concentrate exclusively on bottom lines and forget to look up are likely to trip and fall, just as leaders who don’t keep and eye on the bottom line may find themselves out on their bottoms.
The manager imitates; the leader originates.
What’s the manager …read more

Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: lusi
This is the fourth in a series discussing whether Warren Bennis’ 13 differences between leaders and managers still holds in light of today’s modern workforce.
The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.
If a manager truly focused only on the next few days, weeks, or even months he would have little chance of challenging/developing his people, driving innovation and productivity in the department/group/team, or any of the myriad of things that most managers are responsible for in today’s world. Further, without a decent understanding relative to his position of the …read more