What is leadership, really?
At its core, we define leadership as the ability to inspire and motivate people to action. But excellent leadership takes it further. It’s not just about doing—it’s a way of being, doing, and serving that in a way that contributes to the greater good.
What do leaders do?
Great leaders create strong relationships, inspire action, and set direction and priorities. They’re people focused. Yet, often, we hear leadership and management used interchangeably—and that’s a problem, because they are not the same.
Where leadership is about people, management is about processes. Managers plan, organize, coordinate, and control. Their job is to keep things running efficiently.
Peter Drucker nailed it when he said: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”
Why both leadership and management are necessary.
In today’s fast-paced, constantly changing world, leaders need a system—a common approach that shows everyone how to lead and manage effectively at all levels of the organization. We call this a Leadership and Management System (L&MS).
I was first introduced to the concept of a Leadership and Management System as a first line manager tasked with documenting how our overall organization was run. It was a daunting task, because the entire leadership team of the organization had to agree to a common description. Multiple meetings, discussions, and guidance from our CEO, (who consistently demonstrated good leadership) finally resulted in leadership team consensus on the documentation and use of our Leadership & Management System.
There are three important rules when creating and implementing a Leadership and Management System:
- The leader needs to personally “own” the Leadership and Management System, setting the example and consistently implementing and using the system, and not delegating the responsibility to others.
- Having a visual representation of the system which is used consistently throughout the organization. This makes things run much more smoothly, because everyone has a common reference point and it ensures transparency throughout the organization so that everyone knows what is expected of them.
- Using the Leadership and Management System throughout the organization, starting with the leader at each level setting the example and consistently implementing the system.
Alan Mulally, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Ford Motor Company, President and CEO Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and CEO Boeing Defense and Space, created and used his Our “Working Together" © Leadership and Management System with each of the organizations he led. He is a proven example of a successful leader who has a system that he relentlessly implements to ensure organizational success, and is one of the best examples we have seen. If it works for Alan, it will work for you too!
What Is a Leadership and Management System?
It is a visual, structured way of documenting how your organization leads and manages. The system will be unique to each organization, but every system should include:
- Vision – Where you’re headed, What you intend to be.
- Mission – Why you exist.
- Values – How leaders guide their behavior.
- Operating Principles & Practices – How people work together, aligned with the values.
- Stakeholders – People who are invested in your success.
- Processes – The steps taken to lead and manage effectively.
One of the most important things a leader can do is to establish their Leadership and Management System. Since my initial experience, I have created one for every organization I have led or been a part of. It helps the leader communicate how they intend to lead the organization and to identify what is needed to get and keep the organization headed in the right direction.
In times of uncertainty, your Leadership and Management System becomes your foundation. It brings clarity, consistency, and confidence to your team to help them succeed no matter the current environment.
Get started.
Whether you’re building your system for the first time or revisiting it—take action. Your people and future success depend on it.
If you would like more information on how to build your Leadership and Management System, our Elemental Leadership course provides step-by-step instructions and proven examples. You can learn more about this self-paced course today here.
