Be a Manager and a Leader

by Aubrey Patterson

Whether you're a teacher, office assistant, or administrator, much of your most important work will never be noticed.

And that's the way it's supposed to be.

Be a Manager and a Leader

It's become trendy to say, "be a leader, not a manager."

Before we dive into the critique, please know that we've said it too.

It's a well-intended, but very short-sighted and misleading statement.

It's also unnecessary cheerleading.

The vast majority of our work involves coaching education leaders and we've encountered ZERO people who don't want to establish a great culture or embrace growth mindset principles.

Most just can't find the time or support to make this happen.

I'd like to find ways to spend more time with my budget and email, and less time leading dynamic meetings and nurturing leadership. (said no one ever 😉)

We believe in Dr. Stephen Covey's axiom: manage things so you can lead people.

Management is foundational stuff. No one seems to care about receiving verbal hugs, planting symbolic trees, and donning new team shirts if their timetable isn't ready, the building isn't clean, the copier is broken, and the wrong textbooks were ordered. 

Yes, we've all known a great many exceptional managers who aren't effective leaders, but have you ever known a strong leader who isn't an effective manager?  

Management is to leadership as planning is to teaching. It's foundational and essential. And like a job done well by an official in a sporting event, few notice the management or planning when things are running smoothly. 

We should all strive to make our management predictable, clear, and nearly invisible.

All remarkable leaders have exceptional management systems. 

Being a manager or a leader isn't a simple binary choice.

It's an if this-then that algorithm.

Be a manager and a leader. 

Want new systems and strategies to eliminate overwhelm and optimize your leadership potential?

Click The Leadership Bootcamp image to learn more!