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Management and Leadership Essay

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Management and Leadership As a Naval Officer I had the opportunity to experience both leadership and management. Today's Navy operates with fewer people and resources than before. Therefore, leadership and management are more important than ever. Very early in my career I was taught leadership and as I advanced through the ranks I experienced management. There are numerous distinctions between management and leadership. Good managers are sometimes leaders; good leaders are sometimes managers. The distinction is primarily between action and enabling. I see management as a function. Examples of management include, planning, budgeting, evaluating, and facilitating. Examples of leadership include, a relationship, selecting …show more content…

Leadership Leadership is a facet of management. It is just one of the many assets a successful manager must possess. The main aim of a manager is to maximize the output of the organization through administrative implementation. To achieve this managers must undertake the four functions of management: planning, organization, leading and controlling. In some cases leadership is just one important component of the leading function. Predpall (1994) said, "Leaders must let vision, strategies, goals, and values be the guide-post for action and behavior rather than attempting to control others". In some circumstances, leadership is not required. For example, self-motivated groups may not require a single leader and may find leaders dominating. The fact that a leader is not always required proves that leadership is just an asset and is not essential. To create and maintain a healthy organizational culture is a trait of an effective leader. To be an effective leader requires certain skills. I will identify six skills effective leaders have in common. Followership, concern for subordinates, development of others, communication, high standards of performance and loyalty to the organization. Navy Leader Development Program (1990) suggest that "To lead you must first be able to follow: For without followers, there can be no leaders". One thing that is often overlooked concerning successful leaders is they were successful followers before they

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