Do you Lead or Does no one Follow?

What are the attributes that make a leader stand out from the crowd of managers?  Many  managers think that they are leaders but in reality they aren't. 

John Kotter described a leader as being "associated with taking an organisation into the future".  This has nothing to do with management.  Another definition of Leadership is "Taking people to places that they haven't been before, for the right reasons".

However it is not about attributes.  You will find similar attributes from strong managers as you will find in great leaders.  It is about behaviour, about vision and about passion.  Great leaders have a vision and demonstrate a strong passion about the organisation.  You don't always find that with managers.   Even though they are passionate about their work managers will often fall in line with the vision rather than developing their own.

Leaders also understand the 5 forces that affect business as set out by Michael Porter:

• The Threat of New Entrants
• The Extent of the Bargaining Power of Suppliers
• The Extent of the Bargaining Power of Buyers
• The Threat of Substitutes
• The Rivalry with Competitors

and use this understanding to create an uncontested market space where the whole system of activities can be alligned in pursuit of differentiation and low cost.

Finally leaders leave you feeling energised, in awe of their passion and approach to their work.  Its uplifting to be in their company and they are the people that you look forward to spending time with.

So if you are a good manager do you have what it takes to become a leader?  Or will you be content to work for that positively infectious individual.