Stop Sending Ducks to Eagle School | Kevin G. Armstrong | TEDxTrinityBellwoods | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Leadership is about looking to the future and doing what you feel is right, whereas managers and coaches focus on getting things done through others.

Key Insights

• 🗯️ Leadership is about looking to the future and doing what you feel is right, while management is about getting tasks done through others efficiently and effectively.
• 🥇 Placing leaders in management roles can be destructive to the leader, the organization, and the employees.
• 👋 Research shows that top players in sports who become coaches often struggle to achieve success, suggesting that being a leader doesn't automatically make someone a good manager or coach.
• ⚾ There are distinct differences between leadership and management, and organizations should recognize and develop individuals based on their specific skills and abilities.
• 👯 Effective leaders have the ability to inspire, motivate, and anticipate future directions, while effective managers have skills in organizing, coordinating, and directing tasks and people.
• 🪈 It is important for organizations to understand the difference between leadership and management in order to effectively develop their employees and drive success.
• ❓ Identifying and developing effective leaders and managers requires assessing not only performance but also skills and abilities in influencing others, communicating, and leveraging talent.

Transcript

once upon a time there was a young man spring skiing with his buddies up at a ski resort Whistler they skied hard all day they went for dinner had a few beers together he's walking home all alone in the dark and he cuts through his deserted parking lot off in the corner in this little Street land there's this huge garbage can turned over all this s... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the difference between leadership and management?

Leadership involves looking to the future, doing what you feel is right, and having the ability to accurately predict or anticipate a direction. Management, on the other hand, focuses on getting tasks done efficiently and effectively through others.

Q: Why do companies promote top performers into management roles?

Companies often promote top performers into management roles because they assume that their success in their current role will translate to success in managing others. However, the skills and talents that make someone a great individual contributor may not necessarily make them an effective manager or coach.

Q: Can a person be a great leader but a poor manager or coach?

Yes, it is possible for someone to be a great leader but struggle as a manager or coach. Leadership is about the ability to inspire, motivate, and look to the future, while management requires skills in organizing, coordinating, and directing tasks and people.

Q: How can organizations identify and develop effective leaders and managers?

Organizations can identify and develop effective leaders and managers by assessing not only an individual's performance but also their skills and abilities in influencing others, communicating, and understanding and leveraging the talent in others. Providing training and development opportunities specific to leadership or management roles can also help individuals succeed.

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores the concept of leadership and its impact on organizations and young people. Using personal anecdotes and examples from sports and business, he argues that being a top performer or player does not necessarily make someone a good manager or coach. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing leadership as the ability to look to the future and do what one feels is right. The speaker encourages his audience to reconsider the common practice of promoting top performers to managerial roles without considering their leadership abilities.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the young man in the story clean up the garbage in the parking lot?

The young man cleaned up the garbage because he realized it was not good for the bears or the community. He felt compelled to take action and ensure the welfare of both the animals and the people who would be in the area later.

Q: What is the speaker's objective in this video?

The speaker has two objectives: first, to get everyone to agree that leadership is a form of behavior, and second, to highlight the impact this understanding can have on organizations, particularly in relation to young people.

Q: Why did the speaker fail as a manager despite being a top salesperson?

The speaker explains that the skills and talents that made him successful in sales did not translate to effective management or coaching. He lacked the patience, awareness, and interest in understanding and leveraging the abilities of others, which ultimately led to his failure.

Q: How does the speaker define leadership?

The speaker defines leadership as the ability to look to the future and do what one feels is right. He highlights that a leader's ability to anticipate and accurately predict a direction, even if it may not make sense to others, is what sets them apart.

Q: What characteristics do people often associate with great leaders?

People commonly associate the ability to motivate others and give clear direction with great leaders. Additionally, there is a belief that leaders are only as strong as their teams and that developing other leaders is important.

Q: Why is there confusion when defining leadership?

The speaker suggests that confusion arises because people often define leadership based on the impact a leader has on others. This confusion is perpetuated by authors, speakers, and even schools that specialize in leadership education.

Q: How did Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela exemplify leadership?

Rosa Parks showcased leadership when she refused to give up her seat on a bus, even though nobody followed her and she faced legal consequences. Similarly, Nelson Mandela demonstrated leadership when he stood up against white supremacy, despite not having immediate support or followers.

Q: What is the speaker's argument about the relationship between leaders and managers?

The speaker argues that leaders and managers are not synonymous, despite common misconceptions. While both roles involve getting things done through others, leaders focus on anticipating and executing, while managers prioritize efficiency and effectiveness.

Q: How do top players perform as coaches or managers?

Based on research, top players generally do not perform well as coaches or managers. In sports like hockey and basketball, many top players-turned-coaches experienced losing seasons or even quit early on. The research suggests that only a small percentage of top players are successful as coaches.

Q: What does the speaker question about traditional promotion practices in business?

The speaker questions why organizations continue to promote top performers to managerial roles when the data does not support this practice. He points out that this approach can potentially hinder the growth and success of both the leaders and the organization.

Takeaways

The main takeaways from this video are the distinction between leadership and managerial abilities, the importance of recognizing leadership as a form of behavior, and the need to reconsider traditional promotion practices. The speaker emphasizes that promoting top performers to managerial roles without considering their leadership skills can have detrimental effects on both the individual and the organization. He calls for a better understanding and recognition of leadership in order to support the growth and development of young people.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker tells a story about a young man who cleaned up a parking lot for the welfare of bears and the safety of the community, demonstrating leadership behavior.

• The speaker argues that leaders and managers are not the same, and that placing leaders in management roles can be destructive.

• Research shows that top players in sports who become coaches often struggle to achieve success, highlighting the difference between leadership and management.