Manager or Leader?

Manager or Leader?

This question has always been a topic in countless managerial book. In summary, lots of manager are not seen as a leader and this cause an internal fraction among the company or organization.

Manager is someone  holding the status quo. Someone with the position given by superiors. Managers do the things right so that the company/organization do the things right. Meanwhile, Leaders might not have the position and might not have direct access to the superiors, however Leaders have influence over peer and subordinates. Leaders might not do the things right, but Leader do the Right Things.

Inevitably the presence of leader and manager can be destructive upon the work dynamic, since Mangers and Leaders tend to have different perspective. Fractions will be establish upon different grounds. Managers stick to the rules and regulations. Leaders create their own rule and spread the influence.

So would you be a Manager or a Leader? I would say you must become both!

In my country Indonesia, we have an excellent example of how these two roles are played. The Partnership between Jokowi and Ahok in Jakarta is without saying one of the best ever. Jokowi is current Governor of Jakarta (and soon to be our President) and Ahok is his deputy. The way I see this is that Jokowi appears as the leader, who stands for the people and share the aspiration, hope and vision. Jokowi do the right things by giving hope. While Ahok maintain the balance by playing the bad guy, who do the things right. Ahok do all the dirty work of scolding incompetent staff and balance the internal management. Nonetheless, they create a beautiful partnership. So the roles of leader and manager must co-exist!

Managers do the things right. Leaders do the right things.

Be Both and you are right!

Recca

@roninsleader