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Management and leadership skills are different, yet complimentary. Managers are tasked with the responsibility of enforcing policies and protocols, while also ensuring the jobs of employees are done in compliance with the goals of the company. They are focused on delegation, control, processes, efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.

Leaders are more concerned with creativity, vision for the organization, big ideas, innovation, and empowerment. Whereas management may be thought of as a man-made position to assist in organizational development, leadership is oftentimes an innate characteristic that just happens to reside in most managers. With both characteristics deemed necessary to effectively direct and encourage others on the job, is it safe to assume that all managers are naturally leaders?

Natural managers are good at directing others and getting them to do what is needed without much resistance. Natural leaders tend to go ahead of the fray, and encourage employees and co-workers to do more by guiding them with their actions or pulling them do more. Though an employer may be great at managing others, passive personalities may cause them to let someone else take the lead over what they have developed. Allowing such to happen can be detrimental to both the desired end result and also to the respect employees give to managers. Alternatively, leaders with horrible management qualities can cause a lapse in proper execution and delegation to the employees necessary for success in the company.

In order to properly marry the two, here are a couple of common traits that reside in both great managers and leaders to effectively inspire development, action, loyalty and respect of employees and team members:

1) Integrity – This includes being a person of your word. Employees and team members understand that sometimes bureaucracy and red tape may hinder plans, however, blatant falsities and misleading statements and actions do not make for great leaders or managers. Great managers and leaders own up to their mistakes and accept that others make mistakes as well.

2) Open and Welcoming Personality – Being willing and able to listen to co-workers, employees and other team members is essential for success. The teams, departments and company in its entirety have to work together to move in the right direction. Managers and leaders understand that they have to listen to the feedback, criticism, ideas and praises of others.

3) Respect – This includes respect for your position as manager/leader, and also respect for the role your fellow co-workers and employees play. Effectively communicating goals, expectations and deadlines, while also demonstrating emotional and professional intelligence to allow positive co-existence between your role and the roles of others in the company.

Is your boss a leader?

Your Boss Is A Lot Of Things, But Is Leader One Of Them?  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com