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Linda Hill and Kent Lineback have another great post on their HBR blog. This one's titled: "I'm a leader, not a manager!" After sharing an example of a boss who describes himself just that way, Hill and Lineback say this.

"Both leadership and management are crucial, and it doesn't help those responsible for the work of others to romanticize one and devalue the other."

That's absolutely right, but it's not the whole story. Today, too many bosses use "I'm a leader not a manager" as the equivalent of "that's just the way I am." It's a trendy way to admit that you're not doing what's expected, while avoiding the faintest whiff of a commitment to do better.

Get this straight. Your team members and your boss and the people that love you all want you to do a good job. That means doing the whole job, not just the parts you like and not just the parts that are fun for you and not just the parts redolent of romance.

You must lead. It's your job to set direction and define purpose. You're the one that says, "That's the prize. Keep your eye on it."

You must manage, too. You're the one responsible for the organizing and planning and follow up that are the core work of management.

You must supervise. All that evaluating and coaching and team member development stuff you've read about is up to you.

You have to do it all. The key word here is "do."

Boss's Bottom Line

Great bosses do what they must so that the team and the team members succeed. No excuses.

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.