The Lline Between Leadership and Management

There is a fine line between leadership and management. The line is in continuous flux, hence the understanding that those who espouse to be a leader or a manager, must be flexible enough to adapt to the given situation at hand. One must know when to go into the manager mode and when to become that servant type leader.

The most important factor in determining where the line starts and where it might end is in gaining an understanding of what constitutes leadership, and what constitutes management. True leaders lead by example and inspire others to greatness. Managers generally default to their position, title, and/or authority to extract effort from others in task accomplishment.

In general, if one were to visit a given organization and randomly inquire of the people to identify a leader by name, most will offer the name of the CEO. The misunderstanding of associating "leader" with the individual who tops the hierarchal chain is a misnomer at best. Unfortunately, this misguided information is being passed along by academics, citing examples of people holding supervisory positions and claiming to be studying leadership. The mere study of leadership, does not a leader make.

However, people holding positions of authority in organizations “can” be leaders. Certainly those in an authoritative role are afforded the freedom and autonomy to act in a leader-like manner. Cases can be brought to bear which support both good and bad examples of authority figures in action; those who drank the proverbial Kool-Aid and went down the road of non-leader-like behaviors, and those who performed extraordinary acts of selfless leadership.

An effective leader must be a good manager and a good manager must be an effective leader. If the goal of an organization is to maximize profits, then both the manager AND the leaders must be actively engaged in growing their people. We must encourage, care, recognize, praise, coach, and mentor; in short we should be in the business of developing our replacement. Because, the truest form of leadership is to focus on the followers, not on the self.

Fifteenth Annual Aircraft Maintenance Symposium (Free)

Chandler-Gilbert Community College Aviation and Technology Center
March 10 & 11th, 2011

Chandler-Gilbert Community College Aviation and Technology Center in partnership with Arizona Flight Standards District Office is sponsoring the fifteenth Annual FREE Aircraft Maintenance Symposium. The site of the symposium is The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11, 2011 , 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is designed for everyone interested in aviation in general and aviation maintenance specifically.

The symposium targets quality educational needs, provides opportunities for networking with the southwest aviation community and up to date product improvement information. The symposium will provide an opportunity for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate holders to renew their Inspection Authorization (IA) ratings, and technicians to earn points for the Aviation Maintenance Technicians Award. Pilots can earn credit toward the Wings Program. An expanded vendor area will provide participants with current product displays and interaction with company representatives. Speakers from the aviation community will provide informative, challenging, and insightful classes. Advanced speaker schedules will not be available until the 10th of March at registration time.

IA / Technician Online Registration: http://www.cgc.maricopa.edu/academic-affairs/aviation/symposium/Pages/IATechnicianRegistration.aspx

The Center for Aviation & Aerospace Leadership

...an interesting perspective regarding people in general; "...they want to be a part of a cause that gives them a sense of meaning and significance; they want to belong to something larger than themselves..." I posit that the attraction is more (much more) than mere charisma that draws those yearning for the secret recipe or magic potion that will unlock the answers to life's burning questions. I discovered a term that has become the focus of my interaction with other human beings; Gemeinschaftsgefühl - term is used to describe the state of social connectedness and interest in the well-being of others; community feeling.

I have come to the understanding early in my leadership career, that “True” Leaders are those who focus on their followers and not themselves. In other words, True Leadership is synonymous with “Servant” Leadership. Leaders, who embrace the principles of serving, are then truly free to influence those in their charge for the greater good.

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose..." ~Janis Joplin. We lose our freedom when we allow ourselves to be diverted from our responsibility to those we serve. The key to servant leadership (in my opinion) is to leave the people and the communities we serve, better than they were before we interacted with them. Servant Leadership is infectious. Not doing it? If not, you are missing out on some choice blessings in your life.

"My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done,
Leave countless marks for good and ill ere sets the evening sun,
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray;
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way" -- Anonymous

"Ripples are indicative of Human Life...
...One cannot touch another without being touched back" -- Bobby Martin

Bobby Martin’s recommended Reading List:
Eupsychian Management - Abraham H. Maslow
Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box - The Arbinger Institute
Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness - Robert K. Greenleaf
Becoming a Person of Influence - John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan