Day 2

Subject: Manager or leader – which one are you, [firstname]?

Hi [firstname],

A lot of people think the terms “manager” and “leader” are synonymous; they are not. 
Managers have people who work for them. The people they manage do the minimum they need to do in return for being paid. Managers give instructions, and expect those instructions to be followed. Often the manager will closely supervise his/her subordinates to insure those instructions are being followed to the letter. It's a top down system with very little input from those below the manager on the company totem pole.

Leaders, on the other hand, are more subtle and inspire instead of coerce.  They get input and feedback.  They surround themselves with people whose contributions they value, and cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect. 

Most importantly, leaders listen.  They know they don't have all the answers, but instead use their influence to get the answers they need.  They make balanced decisions, which their followers willingly accept. 

Leaders see the big picture; whereas, managers concentrate on the task at hand. For that reason, good managers are not necessarily good leaders.  The converse is also true: Good leaders are not necessarily good managers.  The best leaders recognize this and get other people to carry out the management role for them.  They put together a team of individuals who have the skills they lack. Leaders have the vision. They motivate the team to act on that vision.  They let the team get on with the job and trust that each team member will do a good job. They encourage the team to overcome any obstacles they may encounter in pursuit of that vision. 

As President Dwight D. Eisenhower so eloquently put it: “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

Warmly,

[Your Name]

PS. I go into more detail in my guide to becoming an influential leader.  You can find out all about it here [link to sales page].
