How realistic is it to be an effective leader and an effective manager? Can you do both or does one take away from the other?

2019-01-15T18:58:59-05:00

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 7:08 PM

2019-01-15T19:08:28-05:00

If you cannot manage you cannot effectively lead.
Of course this interpretation depends entirely on your definition of management. If your definition of management is the 1980's definition for management which is known today as toxic leadership, then they certainly detract one from another. If by management you mean managing the day to day affairs of your organization, then you can't actually lead (improve and develop AKA transformational leadership) without effectively managing your operations.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Jan 15 at 2019 7:11 PM

2019-01-15T19:11:38-05:00

Effective leadership is putting first things first - effective management is discipline, carrying it out. -- Steve Covey... As a SSG, you're in a stage in your career where the science (book learning) and the art (actually doing) are 50-50ish. As you gain experience, you will find the books always have an answer, but the combination of effective leadership and management is a great art that is not necessarily in a book. You only need to look at the good leaders around you to know how realistic your question is -- good luck.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Jan 15 at 2019 7:28 PM

2019-01-15T19:28:01-05:00

It takes work, but in order to be truly effective, you have to be proficient at both. Always remember that you lead people and manage programs. Learn to differentiate which hat you need to wear for each given circumstance, once you do that, you are on the right path.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 8:12 PM

2019-01-15T20:12:00-05:00

Great question SSG Private RallyPoint Member

But excellent responses MAJ Private RallyPoint Member CSM Chuck Stafford and TSgt David Holman! I don’t think there’s much else to say!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2019 8:26 PM

2019-01-15T20:26:24-05:00

One exists in random with the other. It's likely if you are good at one you are good or decent at the other. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. Be great leader and managerial skills will soon follow.

Response by SPC Chris Ison made Jan 15 at 2019 10:05 PM

2019-01-15T22:05:31-05:00

Leadership is the art of getting people to do things against their better judgement (see the hill take the hill), or contrary to their point of view (Clean the head/latrine).

Management is the art of moving quantities and entities and using them to their fullest potential.

An NCO leads, and an officer manages, especially at the field grade and above levels.

They tend to compliment each other, however some leaders suck at management, as they are used to using the stick over the carrot; and some managers suck at leading, as they are not assertive enough to get the job done.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2019 10:59 AM

2019-01-16T10:59:53-05:00

Yes. It depends on what you mean by leadership though. I think a lot of leadership is done by the trust you acquire through management.

Granted I work in an office environment so take that in mind. ( Former Services flight commander turning JAG - so I may not even have troops at my next assignment) You have to do both, trust your people enough to do their job with limited involvement, make your presence known " managing by walking around" , enforce standards, and be a good example. Make sure that you are holding yourself to as a high a standard as you hold everyone else and that you get the mission done. Trust by verify ( quietly - I generally verify without ever letting someone know I am ) and stand up for your people on day to day. When the harder decisions come and you have to make a decision for better or for worse, you will have generally earned their trust enough to lead.