| Jane Turlo is a healthcare executive with over 30 years of clinical and leadership experience. Jane has served in several leadership roles and in 2019, she started an advisory company, Jane Turlo and Associates, LLC that provides business and manage |
Management and
leadership, a distinct interwoven parallel
By: Jane Turlo, MBA,
CHC
According to
Webster’s, the definition of Management is: “the conducting or supervising of
something (such as a business)” and “judicious use of means to accomplish an
end” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary APP).
In addition,
Webster’s defines Leadership as: “the office or position of a leader; capacity
to lead; and the act or an instance of leading- leadership molds individuals
into a team.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary APP).
Management
and leadership are different, but they are also intertwined. We have all had bosses that were managers,
others that were leaders and sometimes if we were fortunate, both. What makes one person a manager and the other
a leader? What characteristics set the
two a part? How does one evolve into the
other? Although a subjective topic, I do
believe there are certain qualities that differentiate the two.
The bridge
between management and leadership has to do with using attributes, both innate
and learned, AND really pushing your boundaries and comfort zones.
Keeping a
business functioning, ensuring that employees are engaged and productive, and
being responsible for operations running smoothly are all a part of
management/leadership. Focusing on increasing
revenue and decreasing cost, along with a gamut of other responsibilities, is
what managers and leaders do. However, at
times, with management, it can feel like running on a hamster wheel with the
main goal being, to get stuff done. Throughout
a workday, managers operate tactically and vigilantly at driving profit and
effective functionality, while extinguishing fires that inevitably start up
routinely. This type of energy level and
environment can make it difficult to focus on developing or enhancing leadership
skills.
Leaders need
to get things done too, but they approach it strategically to achieve long term
impact, impression and vision. Leaders
are courageous risk takers that are fearlessly driven to challenge themselves, staff,
peers and superiors. They are not afraid
to make unpopular decisions and they do it with strength not bullying. Leaders are decisive and take ownership of
the good and bad. They are not
threatened by their teams’ talents; they welcome fostering growth in others and
instilling confidence in their staff. Leaders
pave the way to change through example, hard work and dedication, and in turn, employees
will follow a proven trusted leader.
As you
flourish in your careers, take note of the attributes of your bosses. Notice how they make decisions, how they
conduct themselves and how they interface with employees and colleagues. This type of intel can help contribute to how
you shape your leadership or management style. Seeking out a strong trusted mentor who has
walked in your shoes, can really make a difference.
As leaders
and managers, it is important to remember that good management and good
leadership complement each other; great leaders need great managers and vice
versa. Not everyone wants to be or is
capable of being a leader, and that is ok-nobody is good at all things. However, it is important to know what kind of
boss you want to be or what kind of boss you want to work for. If you are clear on these, it helps move you
in the right direction and into the right culture and organization, and that is
a great place to be.
Reference: Webster’s Dictionary APPBody text here.
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