Comments for The Blue Collar Blog

Comment on Leader or Manager – What the Hell’s The Difference? by Bart Gragg

Bart Gragg — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:51:15 +0000

@Cherry! WooHoo! You said it! At all levels we need both management and leadership. And believe me, if you don’t think there are “leaders” below the executive level – think again. One very common example is the rabble rouser. They’ll lead the entire crew off the cliff and you will watch them do it.

There are people that tend to have skill sets that lean one way or the other, but if you are truly on the org chart as a leader or a manager, you had better have the skills for both.

Now, what’s my next topic that gets people crankin?

Comment on Leader or Manager – What the Hell’s The Difference? by Cherry Woodburn

Cherry Woodburn — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:53:55 +0000

A simple man? Somehow I doubt it. But to your question and my opinion – I agree with David and Darrell about, what I’d call, textbook definitions of the difference between managers and leaders. What I find unfortunate is that the words manager and leader have been used to refer to positions as if the role expectations are mutually exclusive. As Darrell said “the best managers have strong leadership skills”, as I think they ought to, even if their sphere of influence is smaller than the VP-leader or CEO-leader. I also think that those in higher positions who we commonly think of as leaders need some level of management skills as well as leadership skills. Sadly individuals at the top don’t always have great leadership skills. One thing a good leader needs is a direct and clear communication style & I think that I did not exemplify that here. A bit circuitous of a response on my part.
Good questions Bart. And I do like the quote Manage yourself, lead others.

Comment on Leader or Manager – What the Hell’s The Difference? by Bart Gragg

Bart Gragg — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:47:33 +0000

Let’s break this down a little though. For me, a simple man of the earth, dirt, barnyard, whatever, there has to be some commonality between the leader and the manager, right?

Comment on Leader or Manager – What the Hell’s The Difference? by Bart Gragg

Bart Gragg — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:45:33 +0000

Good stuff guys.
@Darrell – I like the managers = “man-agers” You did finally hit one of the marks I am thinking of, and that is managers must have some form of leadership, even if it is usually at gunpoint. But, the paradox is, often leaders lead by gunpoint.
Right on with the remarks about how the leader can occupy any position in a company.
And that leaders can have whole organization influence, including the screw-off in the warehouse.

@Charles – good quotes to keep in mind.
@Dave – good descriptions as well.