Question

Review the following video on the difference between Management vs. Leadership (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and answer the following questions.

1. In your workplace, home, community organization, or another real-life scenario, would you view yourself as a leader or a manager, or both, and why?
2. Why might it be valuable for you to possess both leadership and management skills in your personal and/or professional lives?
3. Based on your personal and/or professional experiences, do you believe managers or leaders have more of an impact on generating positive outcomes (or do you find them equal - if so, justify your answer with credible sources)?

Answer 1

1) In your workplace, home, community organization, or another real-life scenario, would you view yourself as a leader or a manager, or both, and why?

In short at the workplace, home, community organization, or another real-life scenario I would rather consider myself as a Leader rather than a manager. Both leadership and management are not similar to each other. Leadership is more functional as opposed to Management being more of a title. Leadership is an art as compared to Management being more of a designated or appointed title or role.

My leadership ability would revolve around certain inbuilt talent and skills capable of further leading a respective team and more importantly lead by example. Due recognition of my leadership skills and ability also lie in certain influential forces that further create a positive impact on activity and performance of groups.

Skills that make me a good leader                                                                                                                           

a) Exchange of information                                                                                                                                            b) Recognizing demands of group                                                                                                                                  c) Identification of available resources and adept/skilled at optimum use of the same                                                          d) Supervision and aid                                                                                                                                                    e) Leading by and setting of example                                                                                                                               f) Presentation in any form                                                                                                                                              g) Formulation and planning                                                                                                                                            h) Knowledge and leadership sharing                                                                                                                              i) Learning ability

Leadership traits I possess

a) Ability to instigate                                                                                                                                                     b) Ability to innovate and create                                                                                                                                     c) Original/unique in idea and approach                                                                                                                          d) Ardent decision making ability                                                                                                                                   e) Good and sound listening ability                                                                                                                                 f) Visionary or foresight abilities                                                                                                                                       g) Driven by purpose                                                                                                                                                      h) Self-motivated                                                                                                                                                           i) Trainer                                                                                                                                                                       j) Profound ideas and effects

2) Why might it be valuable for you to possess both leadership and management skills in your personal and/or professional lives?

Though consider myself as more of a leader rather than a manager, I would certainly agree that it would be paramount to further improve and develop my management skills in my personal and/or professional life for reasons listed below:

a) Ability to plan and implement directives and processes                                                                                                b) Creation, implementation and adoption of various structural processes in the planning process                                        c) Key and transparent communication and co-ordination with superiors and colleagues                                                     d) Delegation and supervision of various and tasks                                                                                                            e) Sheer foresight with regard to future events                                                                                                                  f) Independent problem solving ability                                                                                                                              g) Timely dispensing/sharing of information to subordinates                                                                                              h) DIY (Do it Yourself Attitude)                                                                                                                                         i) Ability to resolve escalations and conflicts                                                                                                                     j) Thorough understanding of various business processes so as to quash any negative element                                           k) Possess techno-commercial acumen and skills                                                                                                            l) Collaborate or work conjointly with subordinates and colleagues                                                                                   m) Astute thinking                                                                                                                                                           n) Various aspects and goals of project management

3) Based on your personal and/or professional experiences, do you believe managers or leaders have more of an impact on generating positive outcomes (or do you find them equal - if so, justify your answer with credible sources)?

Based on my personal and/or professional experiences, I believe both managers and leaders have created lasting impacts on generating positive outcomes for reasons further listed below.

On a personal note I possess close to 14 odd years years of Logistics, SCM and Procurement work experience across 07 different industries further spread across Asia, Middle East and Africa.Having said that was employed in the Oil & Gas, Food, Retail, Telecom, ITES and Hospitality sectors respectively.

Leadership skills enabled me foremost to further lead by example and simultaneously carry out respective duties and functions to the best of my abilites. Line reporting Managers or even Managers I personally reported to created huge impacts on respective outcomes in areas of:

a) Timely decision making during the the thought process                                                                                                b) Imparting of invaluable knowledge                                                                                                                               c) Guidance and supervision in times of distress                                                                                                               d) Sharing responsibility in non resulting or non-favourable outcomes                                                                                e) Allotment of suitable grants and benefits                                                                                                                      f) Father figure like approach                                                                                                                                         g) Impeccable problem solving ability                                                                                                                               h) Strategic and holistic approach to management                                                                                                           i) Extremely focussed and dedicated to work on hand                                                                                                       j) Extremely target or goal oriented                                                                                                                                  k) Ability to remain calm or unflustered in high volatile, non friendly and unfavorable environments