Managing, Leading, and Bossing
Abstract
Leaders fascinate us. From the smallest shop to the largest corporations, employees observe, speculate on, and talk about their chiefs; if you are ever at a loss for a conversation starter, "Tell me about your boss" will work. Another great question is, "What's the difference between a leader and a manager?" Early in my career, I thought there was no significant difference between managers and leaders and that talking about distinctions between the two was a waste of time, just an exercise in semantics. Now I am convinced of the opposite; although the positions do overlap, there is a real difference between the roles of manager and leader, and the distinction is important. In fact, those in a position of responsibility who do not understand the differences between managers, leaders, and a third category, bosses, are likely to be mistaken about their own role and the effect they have on others. Every organization includes supervisors who lack general or technical skills, or who neither inspire nor benefit the people under their control. A good manager knows how to effectively work with the human resources within their span of supervision. A great leader moves the organization forward to new capabilities by enabling and enhancing workers. I label the people who do neither of these "bosses." In contrast to helping the organization by supporting workers, bosses concentrate on their image, power, and future gains. Narcissism is a trait common to these anti-leaders.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA564349
Entities
People
- Stan Emelander
Organizations
- Picatinny Arsenal