Management versus Leadership

    As the first generation of overseas Vietnamese mature, we will have opportunity to move into management. This series will now move towards more management topic, but we will welcome engineering oriented articles.

    Engineering manager, or engineering leader? Which are you? Which do you want to be? Defining yourself as one or the other could ultimately decide your career destiny. According to Gabriel Hevesi (Checklist for Leaders, Productivity Press), leadership is a mix of skills, attitude, will, and motivation. "To become a leader, you must want it, work at it." Managing, he observes, "is an assignment, a job." A middle management job in many organizations, especially large ones is a no-win deal, comments Karl Albrecht (Creating Leaders for Tomorrow, Productivity Press). "Middle managers often feel themselves hemmed in by policies, procedures, and rules of someone else’s making, and at the same time they feel under pressure to innovate, communicate, and make change. They feel pressure from the top and demands from the bottom." Hevisi counters: "A leader uses judgment when under pressure from above to be iron-handed and pressure from below to delegate all."

    Enfranchising engineering managers as leaders. Albrecht argues that the middle management problem is really a problem of role confusion not competence. The solution must come through role clarification. He suggests three things have to happen for engineering managers to become the kind of leader needed by their organization. They need to:

    • Adopt a new mind-set about themselves and their roles;
    • Think through the roles of their organizations in the context of the goals of the overall business of which they are a part; and
    • Have the support of a service-oriented organization culture around and above them.

    The most important change for engineering managers to adopt is a new mind-set. "The old mind-set is one of administration, procedure, approval and disapproval, and passively reacting to events and problems presented by others," Albrecht explains. The new mind-set must be proactive, entrepreneurial in focus, broader in scope, and more business-focused than in the past. Hevesi, meanwhile describes a leader as "applying common sense and avoiding extremes; directing rather than dominating; involved, but not lost in details; and delegating without trying to avoid ultimate responsibility."

    Making the transition to engineering management leadership. Engineering managers who want to move from the old role of bureaucrat to a new one of entrepreneurial leader should do the following:

    • Define the real contribution of the engineering department, in terms of the customer it serves, both internal and external.
    • Define and articulate a clear mission for service.
    • Train, develop, and orient the engineers and technical staff for creating value, not just doing tasks.
    • Focus the organization’s systems and procedures on the delivery of service and the creation of customer value.
    • Focus the rewards on service, to appreciate those who contribute to the success of the enterprise.

    There are many models for leadership. No one is a panacea. However, many are workable. It is less important which one you follow, rather to exploit the most useful features of several. Therefore, we present two for consideration. A 12-point checklist for leaders (see accompanying table), developed by Hevesi offers practical suggestions that can be applied now by engineering managers. The following "six dimensions of service leadership" is a model used extensively by Albrecht. He maintains that leaders, including engineering leaders, are called upon to provide service leadership. He argues that the old "command-and-control" style no longer fits contemporary social values and is no longer effective. Instead, leaders must now have a service focus: service to the customer, to the employees, and to the organization. Albrecht’s six "dimensions" are:

    • Leaders have vision and value. To be a good visionary, engineering managers must be able to see the big picture, understand what’s happening, and decide where their unit needs to go. You are the one who will provide the vision, spell out the purpose and contribution of the engineering group’s existence, and develop a strategy for accomplishing it. Engineering leaders must take a personal stand for the values that lie behind the vision. And they must make these values real and compelling for others.
    • Leaders provide direction. You make the strategic vision into a reality. A leader sets the overall direction for the team. This means choosing what's important for the group to accomplish, setting goals to accomplish it, setting priorities that keep everyone’s mind on the goals every day, and helping everyone understand the plan.
    • Leaders use persuasion. You must also be able to get others to see, understand, and believe in the vision. As an effective leader, use your formal authority effectively, not heavy-handedly, but not in a shy way either. You are comfortably and effectively in charge. You project self- confidence in dealing with others. As a leader you can communicate clearly and with impact.
    • Leaders provide support. A critical part of your role as a supporter is to make effective decisions. You also create the climate in your team that fosters innovation and creativity. You make sure the people know they are authorized to think. You want them to look for better ways to get things done.
    • Leaders foster development. An effective leader is one who sees to it that people have a chance to grow. You occasionally discuss each person’s needs and desires with them on a personal, private basis, to better understand what you need to do to help them develop. One important thing you need to do as a leader is expect high performance from every person on the team, to work effectively, and make a contribution.
    • Leaders show appreciation. Let people know you care for and about them. This is an area where many engineering managers often come up short. A good leader can inspire people and help them feel good about what they’re doing. Remember, we all want respect and recognition, no matter how sophisticated we are, how educated we are, or how mature we are. Good leaders know that and act on it every day.
    Checklist for Leaders - A Guide for Day-by-Day Decision and Actions
    1. Emergence of a leader
      • Review "The Emerging Profile of a Leader" characteristics and check off the qualities you possess. A leader:
        1. is authentic - sets examples and priorities;
        2. is committed - coaches, motivates, communicates;
        3. challenges conventional wisdom;
        4. leads change and innovation;
        5. trusts, and builds trust;
        6. is courageous - knows right from wrong and does what’s right, regardless of the consequences;
        7. is results-oriented - fights resolutely for an idea;
        8. is demanding, but fair - uses authority, but is not authoritarian;
        9. is entrepreneurial;
        10. is a team-builder - members have complementary skills;
        11. sets trend - the leader is followed, not a follower; and
        12. is energetic.
      • Of the qualities you don’t have, select three you are keen to possess. Establish a time limit, say, 12 months. Start developing these qualities now.
      • Rate your peers by the same measure. Assist them in improving. Everyone will benefit.

    2. Leaders exercise common sense and sound judgment
      • Use sound judgment and choose the right priorities. Success depends upon them.
      • Never underestimate common sense.
      • Each business situation requires its own solution. Create one that matches and supports your organization’s vision, goals, character, and values.

    3. Leaders lead
      • Lead the change, whatever your present level. Don’t risk being left behind. How many innovations did you make lately?
      • Don’t simply manage people – lead them.
      • Spell out your ideas loud and clear. No one hears a mute.

    4. Leaders communicate
      • Communication is recognition. Even a reprimand is preferred to being ignored.
      • If you want people to listen to you, learn to listen to them.
      • Do you listen with care? Communicate more than what’s essential? Do you pay and receive attention when you talk to your peers, superiors, and reports?

    5. Leaders negotiate
      • Do you adapt your style to the people you negotiate with?
      • Are you conscious of your own behavior? Your own vulnerability?
      • Do you prepare yourself thoroughly?

    6. Leaders holding meetings
      • Make sure meetings are results-oriented and have a real purpose.
      • Don’t waste time and money. Be prepared and follow-up
      • Critique the last five meetings you attended. How many were productive?
      • How could you make the next ones more productive?

    7. Leaders make presentations
      • Never be defensive. Be positive and factual.
      • Match problems with solutions.
      • Offer alternatives, but have your own recommendations ready.

    8. Leaders build teams
      • Did you identify which role you play on the team? Your teammates’ roles?
      • Is your team composed of people with diverse talent, bonded by a common purpose?
      • Are you a good team player? Willing to give team objectives priority over personal interest?

    9. Leaders plan
      • Gather business intelligence. Collect all pertinent information from all sources all the time.
      • Formulate strategy and objectives. Use resources, knowledge and strengths to your best advantage.
      • Set measurable short- and long-term goals, including how, when, and by whom.

    10. Leaders are efficient
      • Simplify to gain efficiency over bureaucracy.
      • Set high standards of quality to reach excellence.
      • Create an environment for innovation to lead.

    11. Leaders promote change
      • Organizational changes must be well thought out to justify cost and risk.
      • Success depends on communication, motivation, education, and involvement.
      • Sources and strength of resistance must be anticipated. Deal with potential problems from the early stages on.

    12. Leaders make decisions, solve problems, use experience
      • In decision making, importance must have priority over quantity or even urgency.
      • Decisions must be fast, yet well thought out.
      • Intuition, facts, and questioning are essential to making the right decisions.
      • Can we solve the problem without conflict?
      • Can my view of the other party be wrong?
      • Can an approach in good faith result in a good solution?
      • There is no sound judgment without experience
      • Experience gives insight. Habit accommodates.
      • Creativity is imagination over habits.