“The great leaders are not the strongest; they are the ones who are honest about their weaknesses. Great leaders are not the smartest; they are the ones who admit how much they don’t know. Great leaders can’t do everything; they are the ones who look to others to help them. Great leaders don’t see themselves as great; they see themselves as human.” - Simon Sinek, Author of “Start with Why” and “The Infinite Game.”
I have been fascinated over the years by the debate, research, and discussion about leadership and management. Increasingly, there seems to be a focus on the differences between leadership and management, which has developed partly because of deficits in one or the other.
Most of us would like to become, or to think of ourselves as, strong leaders. Something is appealing about creating and pursuing a vision and influencing others to support the necessary transitions. True enough, nothing would change or improve if it were not for good leadership.
Leadership training helps you unlock your full potential and realize your ambitions in the business world. Leadership is firmly at the core of every successful organization, and the effective management of people is a hugely valuable skill that is always in demand.
Open learning allows you to gain leadership training without disrupting traditional study. With available education, you can study in your own time and at your own pace, moving through the training course at whatever rate suits you best. This means that you can easily fit your study around your current life commitments, whether you have family responsibilities, a full-time job, or any other constraints on your time. You could even earn a prestigious business degree through open learning and open a whole new range of career opportunities for yourself!
However, not as many people seem to be as drawn toward being a good manager. Maybe I am misreading the “climate,” but management is often associated with the mundane, the routine, and an entire range of “left-brain” activities for which the kudos are few.
There appears to be a feeling that one can be a leader or a manager, but not much acknowledgment that those skill sets can live in the same individual. This is a mistaken view.
My view of leadership and management is that they do need different skill sets but must co-exist for any change to occur effectively. Put together; they make a great partnership. It is like a hand and a glove.