Week 6 Learning Activity
THEME ONE: What is the manager’s perspective of leadership? How does it differ from the leader’s perspective? Managers focus on process, procedure, and implementation of the organization’s purpose. Their perspective is on getting the job done and keeping stability. The leader is about change and moving the people toward the vision. The area of overlap comes in terms of the need to use “soft or people skills” to get their job done yet even there a difference in perspective is seen. The manager motivates while the leader empowers.
LA1
“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”
“Leadership is working with goals and vision; management is working with objectives.”
“Management is nothing more than motivating other people.”
In the five quotes above each leader is commenting on the perspective of a manager in the organization as opposed to a leader. Keep these quotes in your mind when reading this week’s material and formulate your management perspective. How should a manager approach his or her job? What ideas should be their watch words? Think of things like setting goals, making decisions, motivating employees and allocating resources. What mindset should a good manager have to approach these tasks?
Outsider Resources
The Leader’s Role in Strategy
https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/the-leaders-role-in-strategy/
What is a manager’s role in Strategy Execution?
Leadership vs. Management
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Leadership_vs_Management
Understanding the Differences: Leadership vs. Management
https://www.go2hr.ca/articles/understanding-differences-leadership-vs-management
THEME TWO
The manager must be able to solve problems, communicate, and lead teams toward the completion of a task.
LA2
You are the manager of the northern branch of the Laurel City bowling alleys. The owner, Jill Espy, has 4 other bowling alleys around town. The average employee assigned to the concession stand of all the Laurel City bowling alleys lasts 3 years. However, in your branch the average employee lasts only 8 months. Jill is concerned about this huge discrepancy and wants to know your explanation for the difference and what you can do to correct the problem. Training new employees is costly to the company and this high turnover is costing her money that could be better spent elsewhere.
You have tried talking with your current concession staff and have learned that pay and scheduling may have some effect on the turnover rate. However, one person indicated that many of them do not know how to handle difficult customers. It made them not want to come to work.
From your reading this week on a manager’s need to lead their people how would you solve this problem? Consider motivation techniques, mentoring or other ideas from you reading to effectuate a positive change. Think outside the box. Be sure to look at all your resources including those within the organization and those without.
Outside Resources
What Does a Manager Do?
http://humanresources.about.com/od/samplejobdescription/f/What-Does-A-Manager-Do.htm
A NEW ROLE FOR MANAGEMENT IN TODAY’S POST-INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION
What Managers Really Do
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204908604574334450179298822
