I was working with a group of leaders this week discussing the difference between leadership and management; which is more important, and what does a leader need to do in today’s economy to be most effective.
I asked the participant with the greatest amount of tenure (33 years) what he believed was necessary for leaders to be effective today. I thought he would talk about the increased emphasis on leadership today verses when began his career. He did not. Surprisingly, he responded “courage”.
He went on to describe a time years ago when one could engage in a “spirited” disagreement with their manager and then 15 minutes later go off and have coffee. Time pressure, an impersonal workplace, and fear makes this non- existent today. People are hesitant to share their true opinions and ideas for fear of being shot down. As a result, creative problem solving and employee engagement suffer.
How many people truly manage with the courage of their convictions? Periodically, it’s a good idea to reflect on our own behavior and determine if we are engaged in image building or managing our careers with integrity and courage.
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