17 of the Biggest Differences Between Managers and Leaders

17 of the Biggest Differences Between Managers and Leaders 

The words “leader” and “manager” are often used interchangeably, but they mean two completely different things. 

For instance, a manager tells their employees what to do, while a leader encourages them. A manager accepts the status quo, while a leader challenges it. 

Resourceful Manager, a website that offers information, training, and tools to supervisors trying to solve management and business problems, put together the following infographic that outlines 17 of the biggest differences between managers and leaders:

Getting to Know Generation Z: The Desire for Purpose and Fulfillment

Getting to Know Generation Z [Series]

PART 3: The Desire for Purpose and Fulfillment

Generation Z wants more than just a job, they seek a job with purpose, a sense of fulfillment that helps to move the world forward.  As leader’s in organizations, how might we better convey organizational purpose to our employees and encourage them to explore and nurture meaning and fulfillment within their roles? 

Start with a clear vision.  Revisit the history and vision of your organization and department.  Most organizations are not start-ups and their founding stories have been lost in mergers, acquisitions and growth.  Recount why your organization exists and share it with your employees.  Then emphasize why their individual roles are important and add value.  In addition, encourage employees to develop a vision (purpose) statement for themselves.  What do they see their purpose in life to be?  Does this align with their career path and goals? 

Utilize recognition techniques to convey the link between individual contributions and reaching departmental and company goals.  Create an atmosphere of appreciation and positivity where one might find meaning in being part of a team; part of something larger than themselves. 

Actively engage in one-on-one’s look for opportunities to help your employees align their overarching purpose with their role.  Encourage them to also look for opportunities that might provide a sense of purpose while fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.   

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Click Here for Part 2

 

Getting to Know Generation Z: the Entrepreneurial Mindset [Series]

Getting to Know Generation Z [Series]

PART 2: The Entrepreneurial Mindset

An entrepreneurial mindset is not synonymous with becoming an entrepreneur.  Generation Z tends to gravitate toward an Entrepreneurial Mindset; a mindset that has been described by The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship as the skills and behaviors that include initiative and self-direction, risk-taking, flexibility and adaptability, creativity and innovation, and critical thinking and problem-solving.  Others have described an Entrepreneurial Mindset as the ability to see opportunities, organize resources and create value.  Many of these attributes fall into the category of what many leaders feel are missing today in their workforce and would welcome experienced employees who display these skills and behaviors.  Therein lies the question around how to foster and encourage the use of these attributes in someone who is new to the industry.  What are the boundaries for creativity?  How much risk should someone new to the workforce take prior to consulting someone?  And how can we help the entering workforce gain visibly and opportunity in putting their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to work? 

Do you know someone who has an entrepreneurial mindset within your organization today?  How might you coach, teach and mentor them to ensure that these attributes are appreciated and not stifled? 

Click Here for Part 1

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Top 10 Employee Engagement Statistics of 2017

Employee Engagement Statistics

 

  1. Disengaged Employees Quit Their Jobs

    51% of workers are looking to leave their current jobs

    Can you imagine that more than half the people at work don’t actually want to be there? That’s very scary, and it indicates that something is wrong with the system.

    Not only is the cost of turnover extremely high (upwards of 20% of an employee’s salary), but having disengaged employees within the workplace is also quite costly, and not only on a financial level.

    Yes, there is the cost of lost productivity and absenteeism, but think of the moral as well.

    Disengaged employees lack enthusiasm, act as company detractors instead of ambassadors and can be a drain on other employee’s moods – a sort of domino effect of negativity.

  2. Employee Engagement Is A Global Issue

    Only 13% of employees are engaged worldwide

    This number is just too low, and a big part of the reason for it is that people are not always put first. There is a human element lacking in the workforce, this understanding that people are at the center. Employees are the pulse of every business and as a means in themselves, not as a means to an end.

    The best way for companies to improve this is by creating a culture of recognition. This does not mean “good work” at an annual review, it means weaving the notion of appreciation into the tapestry of the culture.

  3. Employee Experience Dictates Customer Experience

    Highly engaged businesses see a 10% increase in customer ratings

    We don’t think enough about the connection between employees and customers, but the correlation between one’s happiness and the other’s is so high. You know that expression “made with love”.

    It shows when jobs are done with passion, and it also shows when jobs are done with disdain.

    When you have happy employees serving customers (whether or not they actually interact) customers statistically have a better experience. Companies need to know that investing in their employees is an investment in their customer loyalty as well.

  4. Empathy Is At The Core Of Employee Engagement

    80% of employees would work more hours to work for a more empathetic employer

    There are all sorts of intelligent leaders out there, but those with emotional intelligence take the cake. There are 12 elements of emotional intelligence that all leaders need to focus on, divided into four categories. Empathy falls under the category of social awareness.

    This means having compassion for others and their stressors (in and out of work) and acting on it.

    This will help managers build relationships founded on trust and respect, which will inspire employees to work hard, innovate and be committed to your company, because they feel seen, heard and appreciated.

  5. Engaged Employees Help Drive Sales

    Highly engaged businesses see a 20% increase in sales

    When employees are engaged, they have more pride in their work and therefore put in a more valiant effort. Of course, higher efforts result in a greater quality output. This helps increase sales. It’s common sense, but many companies still don’t see the correlation between happy employees and happy customers.

    It’s a misconception that working more means working smarter. We think that working happy is the more important factor.

  6. There Is Not Enough Recognition

    60% of workers would like work praised more frequently

    Praise doesn’t need to be massive every time, it just needs to be frequent and genuine. A simple thank you can go a really long way when you take a minute out of your day to sincerely express gratitude.

    And just as the form of praise doesn’t need to be huge, nor does the reason for giving it. If you want to motivate your employees, recognize their feats – big, and small.

  7. Growth and Continuous Learning Are Essential

    59% of employees say they can “grow and develop” at their organization

    When we surveyed our app users to find out what was the most important to them, we found that 41% of employees care most about having the opportunity to learn and grow within their organization.

    Repeating the same task every day without the stimulation of new initiatives or the encouragement to be curious and take risks will serve to disengage your employees.

  8. Managers Must Remove Fear

    42% of employees feel that their leadership does not contribute to a positive company culture

    Having a positive company culture means one that is free from fear. However, managers are often the main contributors to this fear that exists within the organization.

    Whether or not it is intended, more often than not it is due to a lack of communication. Constant communication is key to developing a workplace founded on psychological safety, which contributes to an overall positive company culture.

  9. Employees Want To Get To Know Their Manager

    70% of employees would like to spend more time with their manager

    There shouldn’t be such a divide between employees and managers, especially considering both are working towards the same ultimate goal. In the spirit of teamwork and friendship, managers and employees need to connect often and more importantly, on a human level, not only business.

    Whether it be grabbing lunch as a team outside of the office or team building activities, employees want to spend time with their manager and get to know them as more than a “boss” but as a person. This helps remove fear, and also helps to cultivate a safe environment for employees to share ideas and feelings.

  10. Employees Need To Connect With Their Peers

    60% of employees eat alone at their desk, working
    This is a problem twofold. First, it means that your employees are overworked, and second, it means that your employees are not connecting.

    34% of employees don’t think they have enough interaction with their colleagues, despite the fact that having a friend at work is one of the most important elements in keeping employees satisfied and engaged.

    Managers should encourage employees to step away from their work and decompress. It’s entirely unproductive to overwork, and it will only make for unhappy, cranky team members

 For more content like this, keep up with us on LinkedIn!

Via OfficeVibe

Robins, Ali. “Top 10 Employee Engagement Statistics of 2017.” Web blog post. OfficeVibe. 25 Jul. 2017. Web. 14 Aug. 2017. 

I just came back from Vacation and Missed the ENTIRETY of Scaramucci's Career

I just came back from Vacation and Missed the ENTIRETY of Scaramucci’s Career

Anthony Scaramucci is out as the White House Communications Director. Scaramucci held the position for a whole 10 days!! So I guess the “Mooch” did NOT see that coming. All this boils down to communication with members of your team, organization, or even friends. Excelling in communication is one of the top consistently rated traits of distinguished leaders. But communication skills are not intuitive or taught in business school. You need to understand the communication style of the different personalities in your teams. Bad communication has ended the career of many CEOs and other public figures….ummm Scaramucci.

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