Published on 08/29/2007

The terms “management” and “leadership” are often used interchangeably; however, the disparity between these two roles is vast. Management, although vital to an organization’s existence, is only one piece to the complex corporate puzzle.

Leadership is the ability to inspire people

Continually driving your organization towards uncharted levels of growth and success requires Purposeful Leadership.The terms “management” and “leadership” are often used interchangeably;; however, the disparity between these two roles is vast. Management, although vital to an organization’s existence, is only one piece to the complex corporate puzzle. Management is responsible for getting employees to commit to organizational goals while holding them accountable to achieving those goals. Purposeful Leadership, on the other hand, is the art of inspiring people to make a total, enthusiastic, and voluntary commitment to achieving and exceeding organizational goals. This form of leadership causes employees to embrace organizational goals as if they were their own.

Leadership is the ability to inspire people to make a total, willing, and voluntary commitment to accomplishing or exceeding organizational goals. Most companies speak about the importance of motivating their employees. However, motivation is simply a temporary response to external stimuli. Inspiring people is a superior form of human communication. Motivated employees commit to the companies goals. Inspired employees make the companies goals their own.

It has been said that 96% of a company’s problems stem from management.

A clearly defined set of values and a compelling shared vision has the power to align a group of individuals towards a common purpose. This type of alignment begins at the top. It is not possible to build a resolute culture without complete enrollment from key leaders and decision makers. If the key leaders at the top of the organization have not bought in to the power and importance of clarifying and continuously communicating and living the stated ideology, then it is better to not embark on this journey. The individuals within an organization will quickly begin to judge and evaluate whether or not they feel the leaders are congruent with the message that they preach. When the leaders are not congruent this process has the potential of creating a cynical culture. However, when the leaders are congruent, most employees will become inspired and therefore meet their own individual roles with a newfound sense of drive and enthusiasm. Those employees who recognize their own personal values and vision as different from that of the organization will eventually leave.