Leadership and Management

Leadership and Management — Bennis Leader Characteristics and Maslow's Hierarchy

Hand in Hand

While leadership and management are separate topics in many respects, they go hand in hand in producing elements that promote mission success.

Strong Balance Required

Organizations need a strong balance of both.

Bennis Quote

*"Management is getting people to do what needs to be done. Leadership is getting people to want to do what needs to be done."* — Warren G. Bennis, Ph.D.

Leader Defined

Leader Definition

A leader is a person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.

Leader Role Examples

Terms often associated with leadership roles include:

Flight leader
Team leader
Squad leader

Bennis Three Leader Characteristics

3 Bennis Leader Characteristics

Warren G. Bennis, Founding Chair, The Leadership Institute, University of Southern California, labeled three primary behavioral leader characteristics as the abilities to:

Motivate
Develop
Inspire

Connection to Maslow

Bennis Echoes Maslow

Under this model, leaders motivate and inspire people to interact and understand one another as they move in the right direction by satisfying human needs for:

A sense of belonging (belongingness and love)
Recognition (esteem)
Self-esteem (esteem)
Control over their lives (safety and security)

…which can lead to a sense of achievement (self-actualization).

Bennis + Maslow

The model developed by Warren Bennis echoes Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory for motivation which outlines the road to self-actualization.

Maslow Background

Abraham Maslow was a well-known psychologist who specialized in the theory of psychological health.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow Famous For

He is most famous for his theory on the Hierarchy of Needs which outlines basic requirements that must be achieved before ultimately reaching self-actualization or fulfilling your highest potential.

Sequential Foundation

Based on Maslow's theory, in order to attempt success at one level, you must be successful in the previous.

Maslow Example

For example:

- If you are hungry or thirsty (physiological needs), you will NOT be able to focus on building relationships (belongingness) until you have food and water

Workplace Translation

Maslow Workplace Translation

This theory translates to the work environment as the individuals who are concerned about keeping their job security will not be able to focus on striving for achievement, which will ultimately prevent them from reaching their full potential (self-actualization).

Leadership and Management — Manager Characteristics

Manager Defined

Manager Definition

A manager is a person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or organization.

Manager Role Examples

Terms often associated with managerial roles include:

Career field managers
Major command functional managers
Program managers
Project managers

Bennis Three Manager Characteristics

3 Bennis Manager Characteristics

Bennis labeled three primary behavioral characteristics of managers as:

Administrators
Maintainers
Controllers

Manager Focus

Manager Focus = Tasks

Under this model, managers focus on tasks a level of control to guide people in the right direction.

Manager Function

Generally, managers ensure the resources needed are:

Readily available
Effectively used

Leader Function (Contrast)

Leader Function

Leaders launch and steer the organization toward the pursuit of goals and strategies.

Manager Responsibilities

Managers are responsible for:

Organizing projects
Staffing positions with qualified individuals
Communicating plans
Delegating responsibilities
Devising systems to monitor implementation

Leader Support Role

Leaders support these actions by aligning:

Personnel needs
Wants
Emotions
Aspirations

…with the task.

Good Management vs Good Leadership

Good Management Function

Good management brings a degree of order and consistency to key issues like:

Readiness
Availability
Sustainment

Good Leaders Function

Good leaders lead people to accomplish the mission.

Best Managers Become Good Leaders

Best Managers = Good Leaders

The best managers tend to become good leaders because they develop leadership abilities and skills through practicing good management techniques.

Effective Leaders = Good Managers

Similarly, an effective leader will often be found to be a good manager.