 Manager Vs LeaderWhich one are you?A good number of books have been written about the differences between managers and leaders. In most cases, managing is looked at in a negative way compared to leading. What do you think?
| Managers |
Leaders |
| Usually stick to what they were taught with little room for new ideas. |
Are always looking to improve. They don’t limit creativity. |
| View themselves as the keepers of wisdom and authority. |
Facilitate learning and empower their teams to come up with solutions. |
| Spend their time working the system. |
Spend their time working a process. |
| Maintain the companies level of success. |
Increase the companies level of success. | Compare your style to the above chart to determine which best represents your approach. While both styles have seen success in the car business, it’s important to know where you are now, and what areas you may need to improveWhy you manage the way you do.Most managers have backgrounds that include some form of customer contact. Salespeople, customer service representatives and consultants often assume management responsibilities. On the surface they appear to be able to motivate, solve problems and make presentations to small groups. In the car business, most managers were promoted to their positions because of their sales success. This includes both service advisors and sales consultants. And the only example they have had to determine what approach they should take to managing successfully is the person they are replacing. This may or may not be good news.If you intend on being successful, you'll need to improve in the areas where most sales managers are weak. These include:
- Time management
- Organizational leadership
- Coaching and training
- Process analysis
Consider taking our Accelerated Manager Evaluation course for more helpful ideas. And pick up a book or video series on leadership. The time you spend will save you hours in the long run. And you'll make more money too! |
