Would you rather be a leading visionary for your company but have disorganized management, or have structured systems with a productive team but no time to drive innovation for your business? Have to choose between the two?

As a business owner for the past decade, I've learned that there's a big difference between being one strong leader and being a disciplined manager. Not understanding the change can cost you your team or your business.

A strong leader does not automatically become a strong manager

Being great leaders bad managers it is not a new concept. But if you're an entrepreneur struggling with the talent management aspect of running your business, it's important to recognize your blind spots. Annmarie Neal, founder of the Center for Leadership Innovation with 20 years of global experience in leading organizations, says in her book, Driving From The Edge, “A leader is someone who sees opportunity and sets change in motion. A manager is someone who follows that leader and sees how to structure things to create value for the company.” She even goes on to say that in her experience, “she has discovered that the best leaders were not good managers”.

This is checked. Sometimes the characteristics that make you such a great visionary for your company, like being innovative and taking risks, fundamentally contradict the role of a good manager, who thrives on structure and consistency. Neal says, “The vast majority of business leaders struggle to make the transition because they don't recognize the need for change.” Even great leaders may not understand that past performance does not guarantee future results.

Connected: What is the real difference between leadership and management?

Know your blind spots

There's a reason commercial airliners require two pilots on board during a flight. While I am not operating a commercial aircraft, I run a growing business and assigning roles is not just about OWN best interest, but also for “all on board”.

Recognizing my managerial limitations, I brought along my wife and chosen co-pilot, Ruth Fernandez.

Ruth has a unique talent as a corporate strategist and specializes in building robust infrastructure for businesses. Prior to joining our company, she held management and accounting positions in various industries and went on to found a nationwide notary services company employing over 400 notaries and 120 contract attorneys. Currently, she serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the Human Resources and Office Management departments. Her professional expertise, as well as her time as a stay-at-home mom to my children, have made her a natural at managing people and structures. Needless to say, her joining our firm marked a significant change in our operations, driving revenue growth of 422% in less than two years.

Scale and transform your business for longevity and growth

I have noticed that achieving balanced holistic operations is twofold: external versus internal.

Big LEADER tend to look outward. I'm always thinking about our products, competitors and what our next big move will be. Big manager tend to look inward. Ruth understands that we are as successful collectively as our team is individually. She thinks about our structures, practices, procedures and how to leverage our team's strengths to achieve company goals.

Scaling your business with the right management team also requires continuous learning. I attend monthly meetings with CEOs looking to connect with other experienced advisors and management consultants. While there's value in the idea of ​​being “old school,” it's impossible to stay ahead of the curve without keeping an open mind. It is essential to look at the operations of others, analyze market trends and change with the times so that you are not left behind.

Connected: Good manager vs. good leader – which one are you?

As business owners, I think we tend to be hard on ourselves to perfect the skills to be both. leader and manager. But the reality is that they are different skill sets – leaders drive growth and managers scale systems. Understanding how to bring harmony between the two is essential to maintaining the success of your business and everyone on board.

I wish you good luck!