Five Skills You’ll Rarely See In Job Postings (But Definitely Need)

Many years ago, I bought into the idea of leaders vs managers. After years of experience, I think differently. Management is an important leadership skill. It is a big part of leadership. Sure, there's all of that paperwork and routine organizational stuff. That's important, but they reality is that a manager has an organization and a mission. Great leaders recognize talent and can organize the efforts of their department (I'm deliberately not saying team) to recognize, employ, and take advantage of their people's talents. To exploit their strengths to mutual benefit. Mission accomplishment and meaningful work for the individuals.

In the military, it was easy to discount the management aspect. Salaries are tied to rank, career path and schedule (time in grade/time in service) are a major part of promotions, and other aspects of career management are handled by others. Positions, skills, and many other things are all defined by doctrine.

In my leadership roles since, working through budgets for annual salary reviews, performance reviews, adapting organization to mission & capabilities, target setting, metrics, etc. all mattered. Get these wrong and no amount of inspirational speeches, good cheer, attitude, or ass kicking will overcome it.

I'm not discounting the other leadership skills. They are critically important. Effective management is ranks right up there with other leadership,skills.