So I heard from a colleague this week an argument about:
Too much leadership dilutes good management.
AND [similarly]
Too much management dilutes good leadership.
What is this a tug of war (without the showy skirts please!)?
Or
Can you ever have too much of a good thing?
Typically, leaders provide the vision and managers the execution.
I don’t see how it is really possible to have one without the other and have anything useful at the end of the day.
A vision without delivered execution is just another big idea.
And
Execution without a meaningful vision is just chasing your tail.
Too much leadership with grandiose vision after vision overwhelms the ability to manage a successful execution.
Too much management of the devils-in-the-details and even the best leadership vision isn’t going to see the light of day.
So the conclusion:
Great leaders need to set the goal posts high but doable and then get out of the way so that talented managers can make sure to get the job done and done right.
And don’t forget that it’s a diverse and skilled staff that actually does the heavy lifting and need to be respected and appreciated.
Tug of war over! 😉
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Jamie McCaffrey)
andyblumenthal 