Managing and Leading Many People Think Managers

Managing and Leading Many people think managers came into their positions because they are exceptional leaders. The truth is that most organizations must be aware of the distinct difference of managers and leaders. Acquiring management positions has to do with ones ability to achieve short-term results. Exceptional leaders have the ability to produce effective long-term results, sometimes and quite often at the expense of immediate gratification. Most organizations have no clear demarcation between the roles of leading and managing.

Many organizations do not value or support the development of leaders; nor do they select managers based on their leadership abilities. Organizations that support the development of leadership in their managers will be more profitable and successful, as well as able to withstand stiff competition. This essay will discuss the difference between leadership and managing, and how a businesses protection and success depends on its qualified managers. The Houston TX-based company Enron had successful managers but not necessarily successful leaders.

Leaders are concerned about the long-term results and generally will not participate in deceitful acts that will jeopardize their credibility in the long-term. Although the Enron managers had setbacks before their major failure, they chose not to deal with the problem but to cover it up. They used the laws that would allow them to hide the previous monetary setbacks while encouraging investors to buy shares and stocks in the company. They were concerned with immediate gratification that impressed the Enron owners.

Enron executives continued to sell shares in the company this fall when a change in the running of the company's 401- k retirement plan left Enron employees unable to sell company shares for three weeks" (Landers, 2001). The ability to produce immediate results without handling the existing problems is an example of managing. Leaders would have dealt with the problem when it was in its infancy. Managers are put into a leadership position, although not many managers or organizations realize that selected managers do not necessarily have leadership qualities.

Experienced managers may be very ambitious, knowledgeable and know how to get the information that produces results. Managers must have leadership qualities for their ambition or knowledge to be of any use for them. Without leadership qualities, it is just knowledge that that is idle in ones thoughts. If the company is to reap the benefits of its successful, knowledgeable and ambitious managers, they must develop leadership talent in their managers. In most companies, people are promoted because of their mastery of the content of the business" Kappel, 2000.

Just because one is familiar with technical knowledge does not make him or her qualified for the position as a manager. Quite often great leaders do not know as much about the company or the actual skills as the ones of less prominent positions. The employees are trained in their choice of profession. Managers should be trained in communicating with people, becoming superior role models, one who others will follow their lead.

Knowledge of the company business strategies and technical education may be helpful in acquiring the role of a manager, but without leadership qualities the manager will be unsuccessful and controlled by the ones under him or her. Leaders, as opposed to managers know how to communicate their visions to their staff so their knowledge produces results. (Booher, 2000, paraphrased). Some organization failures are blamed because of their lack of communication, but actually it is the lack of leadership development in the company's managers that is the cause for business failures.

On the other hand excellent communication skills is one of the qualities of successful mangers. Great leadership potential and excellent communication requires strategic and structural planning. The key is producing long-term effective results. Achieving long-term results are based on building trust, credibility, and dealing with the problems as they occur. This procedure takes time and is not an immediate occurrence. In conclusion, much attention has been recently given to distinguishing the difference between leadership and managing.

All of the sudden business failures may be partially a result of employing unqualified managers. Many organizations views a good manager as a good "boss." What the organizations do not realize is that managers who boss employees are generally bossing the ones higher then management. It is not enough for a manager to possess just knowledge. Organizations must engage in the development of leadership qualities in managers of the company. When managers do not understand that their employees may.