SmartBrief is partnering with Big Think to create a weekly video spotlight in SmartBrief on Leadership called “VIP Corner: Video Insights Powered by Big Think.” This week, we’re featuring Marc Cenedella, the CEO and founder of TheLadders.com.
For Marc Cenedella, the difference between leadership and management is in the details. While leadership focuses more on the high-level picture, management focuses on the minutia of how to achieve specific goals, said Cenedella, who is CEO and founder of TheLadders.com.
In particular, entrepreneurs looking to head a successful startup should focus more on leadership because it gives employees the focus needed to get started. With an established direction, management naturally falls into play because it will set the deadline and details.
As leader of TheLadders.com, Cenedella said he tries to zero in on the company’s vision, including how to stand out from other competing job-related sites on the web. Then with his managerial hat on, he can focus on specific ideas — such as when, what and how certain goals will be accomplished to fulfill his vision of standing out from the crowd.
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Doris,
As much as I respect Marc for his work and success, I can't let a simple statement as the following appear as gospel. "For Marc Cenedella, the difference between leadership and management is in the details. While leadership focuses more on the high-level picture, management focuses on the minutia of how to achieve specific goals."
If leadership only focused on the high-level picture, when does leadership begin? According to Marc, it certainly isn't at the first line of management. I don't think anything could be further from the truth.
Continued
This also says that leadership is always better then management. How can that be? As a sales manager, I can clearly identify the "Management" that needs to be done for each rep on a sales team. Management IS paying attention to the details, but it also knowing where management is needed. Not everyone responds to general, blue sky coaching! At the same level that a sales manager (as an example) manages the details of runnning the business, i.e. forecast process, expenses, salary planning, reporting, mandated training, etc…, the same person has to be a leader by effectively coaching, helping sales people know how they contribute to "the big picture," and it is most importannt for this leader to behave in the way we teach and that we expect the reps to follow. Personally I think most "leaders" have forgotten that.
Is Marc's statement that entrepreneurs should focus on leadership and everything else will fall in place based on his experience, opinion or research.
I would like to know the source(s) of the research he draws upon.
I think people are getting caught up in duality – either or. I'm not in sales but what I get is that a Sales Manager needs to be a leader first – having a vision that coincides with the company's vision and helping sales people envision too (what Jim mentioned) and then a manager seeing to how the specific goals to be achieved – these are the manageable steps to get you to the vision.
Having a Masters in Organizational Leadership and having been in the IT industry for 20+ years, I see the validity in the comments posted. I think that what Jim and James are pointing out is that what Marc has posted is "What Marc has experienced" as a successful entrepreneur. Marc's video has a great example of management v. leadership (it is just a bit hidden!). The 'manager' organizes the 'to do's' and communicates those while the leader has the vision to climb the mountain. Leadership also comes in when knowing when to stop climbing the mountain (if the weather turns bad) and not to continue up the side of it like a bunch of lemmings!
I want a leader that is able to inspire me to take action… JFK said "man should be able to get to the moon safe a come back.." that vision produce a series of events that ends in actually man landing on the moon… but.. a leader without a touch of reality is a very dangererus thing… so I want and respect a leader that is also able to understand and value the complexity of achiving the vision.
We all play a dual role – especially management and entrepreneurs. You use your Leadership skills to motivate and 'sell' ideas. You use your managerial skills to 'manage' resources (time, skills, finance, deadlines, etc.). The trick is knowing when use what role depending on the situation. Keep in mind that Leaders and Managers are titles, whereas Leadership and Management are 'roles'. Just because one has the title, that doesn't mean that s/he is fit to play the role.
[...] The Difference Between Leaders and Managers [...]
I understand the idea of the message, however the idea of leadership being focused on one role I really push back on. No matter what the title is we are all leaders. Even the person that cleans the bathrooms and empties the garbage is a leader. It takes all of us to step up for the "whole" to be truly successful… So maybe we need to be talking more about what are the responsibilities within a role, a title, and then idea of taking leadership out of the management…