Doing The Hard or The Easy

Management is easy.  Leadership is hard.

Management is telling, leadership is asking.

Management is doing, leadership is involving.

Management is forcing values upon, leadership is sharing values and inviting.

Management is necessary from time to time.  If there is a fire in a building and the alarms are not work…I want someone to come in and manage us out of there fast…no questions asked or answered.  Management is also needed when a company or organization needs immediate direction and action in the short term, but it is not a long term solution.  I’m sure you can think of other examples.

Mostly though, when all is said and done, most of us would rather spend time (at work, at home and at play) with leaders.

Proper Preparation Permits Positive Performance

It has been wonderful to hear the stories from people onboard the “Miracle on the Hudson” plane.  The only realy injury was with a flight attendant who was sitting in the back.  By the time she exited, water was up to her neck.

The fascinating thing for me is that amidst the panic, fear and chaos….everyone keeps saying that things went as planned.  From the pilots to attendants, they recount the events and tell us “This is what we plan for,” or, “It went like we practiced it so many times before.”

When you practice something (communication skills, leadership, delegation) regularly, you can do it effectively when you are stressed, when you are panicked and when you have to lead others.