The 6 key functions of the effective manager

There is much written in academic journals and discussed in Business Schools about the difference between leadership and management.

According to this way of thinking, management is about order, consistency, stability and unidirectional authority. Whilst leadership is about change, movement, adaptability and multi directional influence.  These theories posit that managers and subordinates work together to do a job, whilst leaders and followers work together to deliver a vision.

 

Put simply this view concludes that managers do things right, but leaders do the right thing.

At People Based Solutions we believe this separation of leadership and management as two distinct functions is a false dichotomy.  We recognise that theories  which suggest leadership and management are different have academic merit.  We also appreciate that  models of leadership and management can help identify some of the attributes required by those who run the organisation.   However, in our view,  organisations need both leadership and management.  If there is too much management, the organisation’s culture and climate will become bureaucratic and stifling. But too much leadership, and the organisation’s culture and climate will lack direction, and undertake change for change’s sake.

At People Based Solutions we believe that successful organisations are effectively managed by adaptable leaders.    We have concluded that the attributes of effective management and adaptable leadership are distinct but overlapping. When effective managers influence a group to get a job done, they display adaptable leadership.  When adaptable leaders plan and control, they are managing effectively.

At People Based Solutions we believe that those individuals who lead the organisation must also manage it.

Managers are critical to the successful functioning of any organisation.  They set budgets, organise resources, and execute and control the delivery of the organisation’s operational and strategic outcomes.   Mangers ensure that while undertaking the highly volatile work of delivering the organisation’s business plans  there is predictability and order.

At People Based Solutions we offer a Management  Development Programme “The Effective Manager”. This programme aims to help those staff, at any level, whose job involves delivering the organisation's outcomes to develop their managerial skills.  We have concluded that “Effective Managers“ perform 6 key functions. These are:

1.      They set SMART objectives

2.      They stay in control

3.      They understand and manage risk

4.      They operate a balanced scorecard

5.      They create a “golden thread”

6.      They plan for tomorrow.

Over the coming weeks I will blog about how effective managers perform each of the 6 functions in a little more detail.

This article has been posted by Sean McCann, the Managing Director of People Based Solutions an HR consultancy specialising in Management Development. If you would like to know more about the Effective Manager Programme, either public courses or in house for your organisation contact us at:

enquiries@peoplebasedsolutions.com