Hard vs. Soft Leadership

How many different management styles are there and how many ways can they be defined? There are too many to count.

Considering all the roles a manager undertakes, it is clear that they generally have both a managerial and a leadership role. Managerial leadership—the hard leadership—includes the processes, procedures, measurement, guidelines and structure. It is the things you can control. Managers execute and build stability and often have subordinates.

Soft leadership includes the people and ideas behind building and running a staff. It includes dealing with the more emotional side of business and getting employees to buy into new ideas. Bringing out the best in people is a goal for all leaders in business. Leadership involves coaching, which should be positive, timely, and constructive.

It is really hard to say which is more important in business. Finding a balance between hard and soft leadership is challenging, but will help your business and your employees grow.

In essence, “leadership is doing the right thing, while management is doing things right.”

Email me at donna@officemanagementsolution.com with ways you have blended your hard and soft management styles.