A manager most of the time just manages what his subordinates do and focuses mainly on achieving the goals. A leader however, in addition to managing, goes one step further and leads the team. A leader demonstrates through example, and shows the way. He is capable of doing that what he expects his team members to do.

If you have ever thought about your supervisors as not doing anything rather than just bossing about, they were most likely just managers and not leaders. If you have been through such supervisors, you would know better than just to be like them. You would want to do better so that your subordinates don’t think of you the same way. You would want to be a leader!

Now if you have been in the managerial position, you would also know that there is never sufficient time at hand to do as much as you would like to do. That is where most managers remain just that – managers, and are not able to move on to be leaders. It is a tough situation. This is where you realize that managers you have worked with were not doing nothing, but rather they were just too busy doing just management and not taking the time out to lead you.

So, if you want to be a leader and not just a manager, what would be the simplest thing to do? It would be to split your time into two, not necessarily equal, portions. The first portion would be to do your management, which proves to your own bosses that you are doing the work that you have been hired to do. The second portion of time is very important, as that is what you would make use of to be a leader. Once you have crossed the first and major hurdle of making time, you can then move on to leading your team. How? Make use of this time to mentor your team members. Make use of the time to also do some extra things beyond your responsibilities – job items that you expect your team members to perform, especially those that are difficult for them but easier for you as you would be already experienced in doing those tasks. Most of all, take some time to listen to their concerns and to understand how things seem from their standpoint.

What you do to manage the show is only visible to your management, and not to your subordinates. However, what you do to lead your team, thought possibly not visible to your own management, would surely be visible to the team that you are leading. And that is where the team would see you as a leader, someone capable of doing himself what he expects of his subordinates. And when that rapport is established, not only would you be recognized as a leader, but you would see that you have an evergrowing fan club of your own, something that you would be proud of!

Go ahead! Take your time out to be a leader!