Leadership vs. management

The trifecta of characteristics that good leaders demonstrate are intellect, emotional intelligence (EQ), and decency quotient (DQ). There are many factors that go into promoting someone to a president, CEO, or other senior executive role. And if you’re in one of these positions, you’ve likely demonstrated your knowledge and skillset (intellect) to run a company or a team.

As you move up through corporate ranks, it can be challenging to adjust your work mentality to fit your role. The other two components of a strong leader are much more intentional and require self-reflection.

To be effective in leadership positions, it’s important to understand the differences between being a leader and being a manager. Leadership strategist George Bradt outlines these in a Forbes column that will help you transition into higher roles:

• Up: Leaders of organizations are accountable to the Board of Directors or shareholders. To ensure your company has the resources it needs to be successful, building relationships with these stakeholders is important. By spending time with them, you’ll not only make personal connections, but they will be better informed of the company’s innerworkings to do their job effectively, too.

 

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