My Observations Of, and Experiences with Leadership in Management

INTRODUCTIONAll of my life, I have wondered why some peopleare leaders and others are not.This book is sort of an analysis of therelationship between employee, supervisor,manager and leader.In the 1970’s, I had the pleasure of workingout of a Pan Am training department office at JFKairport, NY, with a fellow who I 'observed' ashaving qualities of leadership. I often thoughthad he been an officer in the trenches, and called'let’s go', his men, without hesitation, wouldfollow him 'over the top'. He was in management atPan Am as a Maintenance Technical Instructor. I wasconducting classes in management development.Of course, he wasn’t a CEO or Vice President,probably because he did not have the necessaryformal education, but to me he representedthe qualities I would hope to find in thosepositions. He planned his work, set goals andclearly communicated them to individuals orgroups. He comfortably reflected a style ofknowledgeable, but modest, self confidence. Witha pleasant personality, he seemed to earn thetrust of others. It was always evident he hadprepared himself through experience and study ofthe subject he was teaching.I don’t know why, but to me, as I saw himperform his work, he was the natural 'leader'14 JOHN STEARNStype. Even though there were several otherwell qualified instructors in the group, thisinstructor, John Romaine, came to mind as Iprepared to write this book on the subject ofleadership in management.I am aware of the many books, courses, andother materials on the subject of management,and I have read many of them, but I believe inusing my personal experiences and observations,with the experience of others, it will make clearthe difference between 'managers' and those whoare 'leaders in management'.MY OBSERVATIONS OF, AND EXPERIENCES WITH LEADERSHIP IN MANAGEMENT 15It is not my intention to write this as a'personal career' story and therefore, referencesto my personal experiences are only to beconsidered as they relate to the subject and notnecessarily in chronological order.In writing this book I am motivated by threethoughts-First-most of my life I have mentally notedthe differences in styles, manners, and methodsof peoples’ relationships with others. And thenI found that in my working experience I hadseveral opportunities to highlight and explorethose items.Secondly-In recent years, the emphasis onselecting leaders has grown. It seems thateveryone is always seeking a good leader-tribes,organizations, companies and countries, andtoo often, when one is selected there followsdisappointment.And thirdly, it is helpful to recall thepleasure of working with men and women whowere instrumental in accomplishing much thatcontributed to our society.16 JOHN STEARNSIt is also a recognized fact that there aremany in management positions that have made and/or are making great differences in the lives ofpeople. So in this book instances will be notedin which men and women represent the variousstyles and manners of leadership in managementand make note of the qualities that make somemore leaders than others.This book is written as an 'observation',with the hope it might encourage people holdingmanagement positions to reflect on their styleand methods of communicating with others.Opening conclusions: (1) many organizations,with good purpose and intention, find themselvesmanaged so poorly that others live at a disadvantageand unhappiness. (2) In too many instances largecompanies have had such poor management thatmillions of people have been hurt financiallyand otherwise and (3) In many countries on allcontinents, people find themselves searching forgood leaders and when they don’t, the results arefriction and in many instances, bloodshed.So, my question is, what is it about managementand leadership that is so difficult for some menand women to accept and practice? What is thedifference between a Manager and a Leader?