Blake Patty #3

     In my last two posts I talked about the conversations with my dad regarding how to really utilize your strengths to be a good manager and leader of people. In this post, I’m going to talk about what my dad sees as an important distinction between management and leadership. In class, I believe we sort of referred to these two things as belonging to the same category, which they do but it’s helpful to compartmentalize them as it’s very important to remember that both of these are important as we lead people. This distinction has been very helpful to my dad as he finds that it is too easy for him to get focused on developing one of these areas while forgetting the other.

     According to one of my dad’s coworkers and advisors management associated with the following actions: planning, organizing, controlling, directing and staffing. Management has more to do with the more operational side of things. It’s important strategic work that provides the structure for the organization to function as it should. Leadership is associated with the following actions: modeling, inspiring, challenging, enabling, and encouraging. It’s easy to see that leadership has more to do with people side of things. Making sure people are where they need to be so they can do their job. Leadership has an extra element within organizations such as the missions organization due to the extreme importance of peoples well-being on all fronts even in areas regarding personal life such as marriage.

     My dad expressed that it can sometimes be very difficult two keep both of management and leadership in mind. It’s very tempting to think that the job consists of just one or the other yet both are vital. As he travels to various eastern European countries he tries to keep an eye out for necessary strategic decisions while also checking in and maintaining a personal relationship with coworkers, making sure they are healthy emotionally and spiritually.

      I think this kind of thinking is pretty important in pretty much anything you go into. You don’t even really need to be in a position of authority to practice management and leadership. As we manage our own life and seek to best live for Christ we can be invested in the lives of those around. We are all in need of this type of leadership and it is our responsibility to pass on the favor.