LeaderLab Resource - Lead(or) Manage

I recently had the opportunity to write a short post for an publication edited by David Burkus of LeaderLab titled Lead(or) Manage.  The topic is the dreaded Leaders vs. Managers discussion.  As David said in the introduction to the document, Warren Bennis started this discussion by stating,  "Managers do things right; Leaders do the right thing."

Eighteen great authors and I contributed to the paper.  Spend a little time reading the entire document.  There are insights from several Lead Change members including Burkus, Shawn Murphy, Jane Perdue, Nicole De Falco, & Mike Myatt.  There are other well-known leadership authors involved, such as David Zinger and Marshall Goldsmith.  Many articles were by people I had not read before but their articles were engaging, informative and well thought out.  In all the paper is a great experience.

Management is a noble pursuit, however.  The existence of an argument seems to imply that it's not.  Lately many in the leadership world use the term as Bennis did, to emphasize the control, task oriented side of leadership. That's not very fortunate.  Maybe this is more of a continuum than an either-or argument.

Anyway, rather than let me make up your mind, check out the paper over at LeaderLab.  Then, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on the issue as well.  Are the two things exclusive?  Or must they coexist?