There are many types of management studies which confront today's business students: financial management, human resource management, marketing management and project management are examples of these. Although the title "management" is used with each, there are considerable differences in the actual tasks that are performed by different types of managers. Leadership can be a component of management, although the two are not necessarily linked, but organizations do not refer to financial leaders (although there can be project leaders in some companies). This essay explores my personal approach to management and leadership, how I view the role of managers, and how I expect that my philosophy regarding management and leadership will affect the various roles that I will assume in the classroom situation.
Leadership is the act of inspiring others to accomplish a common goal. Leaders do not necessarily provide the exact instructions needed to accomplish particular tasks, but instead are able to outline the broad goals and objectives and provide enough information and guidance in general terms for subordinates to determine the best way to accomplish those tasks. The most effective leaders, in fact, do not get bogged down in the day to day details of accomplishing particular tasks, nor are they compelled to "micro-manage" their subordinates. An effective leader is not concerned with the tools used to accomplish a particular task, nor, in some cases, even what the tasks are. Those details are left to empowered subordinates (and it is critical that subordinates have the power to make those decisions) while the leader provides the larger vision of what is to be accomplished.
While the effectiveness of the policies that Franklin Roosevelt implemented during his administration can be debated, he provides an example of an effective leader. The nation as a whole, and his subordinates in particular, were inspired by him. Roosevelt main...