I know this topic has little to do with instructional technology, but it does impact it greatly. I often wonder what the difference is between a leader and a manager. My husband just recently finished his MEd in Educational Leadership and he read many books about leadership. He would spout off a plethora of facts and figures about leadership qualities and they all rang very true in my mind. However, as I sit here pondering what makes a leader....I wonder how do you become a leader. My other thought is...do you ever become a leader if you don't naturally have those skills? Are some people just destined to be better leaders and others just cannot effectively acquire and apply those skills? I have had the good fortune to work for several exceptional leaders while working at MCCCD. I think about what my "leaders" brought to the table that enabled me to excel at my job -- (1) flexibility and trust (go together), (2) integrity, (3) connectedness, (4) human relations. As I look at this short, far-from-complete, list, I realize that these characteristics cannot be taught. These are values that you either have or don't have. What do you think?
This topic is of utmost importance as we move into a new classroom culture and dynamic led by new social technologies. I hope that our leaders in Maricopa recognize the importance of being innovative and out-of-the-box. Learning is no longer only taking place in a classroom with rows and desks with a sage on the stage.....learning is occuring everywhere and it is our job at the community colleges to spearhead and embrace that movement. Just my .02.....
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I agree with you that most leadership skills are innate although sometimes they can be learned but mostly by people who still have them naturally but just don't have the practices perfected. The quandary I think is that the leaders do know that learning happens everywhere its those of in the trenches doing the actual implementation that don't necessarily recognize or embrace it. The trick is how the leaders help non-leaders implement the vision. An interesting topic for discussion.
interesting insights....never thought of it that way, but you are right by george!
Leadership and management are learned behaviors, and have different goals and processes. Having taught the subject and been a (hopefully) leader in other jobs, I make it a point to emphasise the difference.
Few people are adept at both, and we develop comfort levels that tend to make us operate more in one sphere over another, but we can overcome the bias.
Leading is about affecting change, managing is about maintaining control. Leaders are far sighted and passionate; managers, immediate and tangible. Leaders want achievement, managers want results. Leaders use conflict, managers avoid it. Leaders question and break rules, managers will quote you the manual--which they probably helped write.
The famous line is that nobody wants to be managed into battle, they want to be led. On the other hand, somebody had to oversee all those training schedules, plans and logistics to allow the battle to be won.
If you want change and new direction, you want a leader. If you want status quo and stability, hire a manager...
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