When you’re an entrepreneur and you are beginning your own business, if you are successful enough, you will begin to employ others. Those employees will then look to you for guidance. You need to determine what you want to be: a leader or a manager. At first, they may sound like the same thing, but when observed closely, they couldn’t be more different.
For those that want to lead a group of individuals, these tips and tricks will allow you to become the best leader you can be.
Create change
When you manage, you simply stick to what is known and you try to keep everything balanced. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it doesn’t always propel a company forward. Leaders change; they are agents of change. When a leader looks at something, he or she intends to dissect it, analyze it and find out how it can be made or achieved differently. This kind of change can be instrumental in keeping a company at the forefront of innovation.
The long haul
Managers think in smaller terms; they look at the smaller picture of it all. They want to achieve short-term goals. Leaders, on the other hand, look at the bigger picture. They see the overarching goal, and as a result, they settle in for a long time. They understand that sometimes results need time before they present themselves. Leaders aren’t afraid to stay at a company for more than five years.
Inspire
Managers, again, are focused on the short-term goals. And to achieve these short-term goals, you must give direction and oversee that the order was followed through. While this usually gets the job done, it does not necessarily inspire employees. Leaders inspire. They can assign tasks, but then coach their employees through tough situations when they need to. They instill confidence in their workforce and trust that their employees are competent enough to carry these tasks out. By instilling this confidence, leaders make their employees want to work for them. This can drive motivation and morale, which can drive up productivity and success.