What does a Manager Do?

What is a manager? What does a manager do? Some managers manage work processes, others people. Some want to be popular. Some lord over their staff as if they are serfs. Some do it for the heightened visibility, the enhanced prestige and the increased remuneration. Others rather continue with the work that they know and not have take on the burden that management introduces to their days.

I just read the book Authentic Leadership by Bill George, and come to realize that the if a manager is to be a true leader, she must be one who focuses on serving her people and at the same time, her clients. Employees who are treated well are more inclined be champions for their companies. They are attentive in delivering customer service and innovative in developing products, are inspired and have their hearts engaged as well as their minds.

All that is easy to understand but the trick is of course, in the execution. People look for context in their work, people look to see how their work matters to the business, people look to be paid but they also look to be inspired. To provide that as a manager or really, as a leader, takes some hard thinking and in the process, deep soul searching on the part of the manager. If a manager fails to engage the hearts and minds of her employees along with their skills and time, her business really is getting less than half of its resources that is human.