How to find a Balance between Management and Leadership in Green Tech
Posted May 28th, 2014
No one really aspires to become a manager. When you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, not one of them says “I want to manage people”.
Once those kids grow up, they idolize those we dub “leaders”. They read books about leaders. They pay big money to hear leaders share their secrets to success. When leaders die, we mourn the loss of their insight and their inspiration.
But can you really be an effective leader without being a good manager? Probably not.
In order to lead, you have to manage. In order to manage effectively, you have to be able to lead. They are complementary skills, and unless you aspire to be Bill Lumbergh (of Office Space fame); you need to internalize both skills.
Leading is more about your personality…your charisma…your approachability. It is the feeling you bring to your work. To be a good leader, you need to be the type of person that people want to follow. If your people do not care, then you are probably not a great leader.
Managing is the work itself. It is a skill…the skill of building the framework that allows others to do their work.
When you manage, you establish the roadmap for others to follow. When you lead, you inspire them to want to follow the roadmap.
Management is more solitary. Leadership is more collaborative. Management is about learning. Leadership is about analyzing – yourself, the situation, etc.
Becoming a better manager is about acquiring skills and learning how to operate in a better way. Becoming a better leader is about acquiring insights and becoming a better person. Therefore to become a better leader and a better manager, you need to
1) Know when you listen and know when to talk.
2) Know how to research, but also be able to stop and make a decision
3) Learn how to focus on the big picture and provide the structure/tools others need to achieve your goals.
4) Know how to hold yourself accountable and make adjustments if you fall short.
If you can consistently (and simultaneously) do these four things you will be able to do what few have been…become a great leader and a great manager. In fact, many of those we idolize as great leaders are horrible managers. It is much more useful to bring both skillsets to the table. They are in short supply in the world of green technology, and with both, you will be pretty marketable.
When you are ready to find your next greatest job in green technology, contact Bayside Solutions. We have access to the best green tech employers in the Bay Area. Send us your resume today! If you are looking for green tech employment agencies, contact us today.
