What is the difference between a manager and a leader?
This is one of the three questions I now ask in every job interview. What I have found in asking a couple CEOs this question -- and what you will find if you "Google" this question or read any of the many books on the subject -- is what I would call...characteristics, or evidences, of leadership; but, I am looking for the core, fundamental difference between the two.
And quite simply, I think Jesus explained and illustrated this the best, when he contrasted the good shepherd and the hired hand:
"The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
- John 10:11-13
What is the difference between a manager and a leader?
A leader cares.
A leader cares about his/her people, even to the point of self sacrifice!
(Conversely, a manager cares about self, even to the point of sacrificing his/her people.)
vs.
This is one of the three questions I now ask in every job interview. What I have found in asking a couple CEOs this question -- and what you will find if you "Google" this question or read any of the many books on the subject -- is what I would call...characteristics, or evidences, of leadership; but, I am looking for the core, fundamental difference between the two.
And quite simply, I think Jesus explained and illustrated this the best, when he contrasted the good shepherd and the hired hand:
"The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
- John 10:11-13
What is the difference between a manager and a leader?
A leader cares.
A leader cares about his/her people, even to the point of self sacrifice!
(Conversely, a manager cares about self, even to the point of sacrificing his/her people.)
And it is from there that all the other answers/evidences/characteristics/practices that people give in answer to this question, stem.
vs.
No comments:
Post a Comment