Learning in Action

6

Leading Learning

Today managers and leaders are considered to be very different.¹ Managers are action-oriented; they spend their days doing, delegating, and deciding. Their eyes are on the present, and they measure success by skilled execution and effective implementation. Consistency and stability are the primary goals. Leaders, on the other hand, focus on the future; they spend their time setting targets, developing strategies, communicating vision, and aligning individuals and departments. Change is the primary objective, and the challenge is to get all parts of the organization moving in the desired direction at a rapid enough rate. Clearly, companies need both managers and leaders to succeed, for together they ensure attention to both ...