identitySPECIALIST

I love to read about Leading vs. Managing.  Typically, when I read about it, most things talk about leading as somehow being better than managing.  It’s always talked about in such a way where leadership is about change, vision, and future.  Management is about more widgets, for cheaper, and no change; here’s the process and let’s not change it because it works.  To tell you the truth, I’m just drawn to leadership and change and all of that stuff.  I am not too drawn to management and keep the process the same and making it better.

BUT I have to do it.

No matter how much I want to be about leadership – about “doing” leadership, sometimes I have to manage.  I have to make better and definitely cheaper – the process that is in place to make something work.  I am not in a position where it’s all about leadership.  There are administrative things; management things.

I have been doing some reading on marketing and leadership, and it’s great to read what these leaders have done.  It’s great to read their mode of leadership at this point in their professional careers.  They’ve done it.  They’ve built it, but they are at a different point now – than I am in my leadership development.  I just can’t superimpose their leadership style and leadership lessons directly into my situation.  Contextual leadership – that’s what it is.

Honestly, I enjoy the tension.  The tension helps to keep it tight.  Living in the tension allows me to operate in both.  For now, I lead and I manage.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever get to the point where I’m just constantly leading.  People might call it that, but I think the tension is healthy.

Thoughts?????