Leadership | Origin: LS101R
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Do You Manage Or Lead? --> Leadership
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Comment on Anthony Rhodes Nalls's post: I agree. And maybe in a small organization the manager is the leader and vice versa. As you say, without a clear goal or vision objectives may be blurred.
Interesting article about leadership and management
Very informative and helpful thread
Comments wee very spot on and informative
A good leader is able to visualize and identify the areas of need. Everything doesn't need to be controlled by a leader, a leader can work in hand with a manager in order to make accomplish goals and make a project grow.
A good leader may need a good manager to accomplish their goals
Leading is visionary. Managing is setting up processes.
I Learned that a leader is a visionary who plans goals, but to achieve them, they need a manager to carry them out.
One of the biggest takeaways from the leadership module is that effective leadership is less about authority and more about influence, communication, and consistency. Leadership in healthcare isn’t just about making decisions it’s about creating an environment where patients are safe and team members feel supported. I intend to regularly evaluate my leadership decisions and interactions to identify areas for improvement. This will help strengthen my emotional intelligence and decision-making.
From this topic, I learned that leadership goes beyond having a title or authority and is more about influence, trust, and motivation. Leaders focus on guiding people, creating a shared vision, and helping others grow rather than just directing tasks. Effective leadership requires strong communication, empathy, and the ability to inspire others, especially during change or challenging situations. One important takeaway for me is that leadership can be practiced at any level, not just by those in formal management roles.
I intend to apply this by being more mindful of how my actions and attitude affect others. I want to lead by example, stay open to feedback, and support those around me by encouraging collaboration and accountability. I also plan to work on listening more and understanding different perspectives before making decisions.
This module really helped me reframe how I think about leadership in my day-to-day work. The myth that resonated with me most was Myth #4 — that leadership is tied to a position. In my role as College Director, I interact with students, faculty, and staff at every level, and I've seen firsthand that some of the most influential people in an organization never hold a formal leadership title. Leadership truly happens at every level, and that's something I want to be more intentional about recognizing and cultivating in the people around me.
The breakdown of the leadership definition — process, influence, group, and goals — was also a powerful reminder that leadership isn't about one person calling the shots. It's a dynamic, ongoing relationship between a leader and their followers, always pointed toward a shared goal. Without that goal, leadership loses its purpose entirely.
What I intend to apply most from this module is a greater awareness of how influence works in both directions. As someone who mentors and supports students and staff, I want to be more conscious of how my team is also shaping me as a leader. The best leaders I know are the ones who stay open to being influenced just as much as they influence others.
From this module, I learned that management and leadership are both necessary, but they serve different purposes. Management focuses on planning, organization, time management, and making sure responsibilities are completed correctly. Leadership focuses more on communication, motivation, teamwork, and inspiring others.
I also learned that someone can be a manager without being an effective leader. The strongest professionals are able to do both. They can keep things organized while also supporting and encouraging the people around them.
I intend to apply this by improving my communication skills, staying organized, and being more supportive of others in group settings. In nursing, it is important to manage time and patient care tasks effectively, but it is equally important to lead by example, remain calm under pressure, and work well with the healthcare team.
I have learned that leadership is more vague than is management. Leadership is associated with words and phrases like: visionaries, commitment, motivation, and birds eye view. Management is associated with words and phrases like: implementation, task completion, delegation, and ground level. It seems than management is easier to quantify with data, while leadership is more of a "I know it when I see it."
That is why I think both leadership and managers should at least understand what the other does and deal with. Without understanding what life is like "in the trenches" leaders can seem disconnected and unconcerned. Without understanding the larger vision, managers can be bogged down and lose sight of "the point."
there is a major different between leaders and managers, leaders know the goal, manager implement the process in how to get to that goal
Leaders have their eye on the horizon (future), whereas managers are focused on the here and now (present). In both instances, leaders and managers may gain insights from the organization's former unfolding events (past) and apply their new-found wisdom for the benefit of the teams and the organization as a whole.
I enjoyed how this course explained that you can be a leader at any stage of your employment. That is uplifting, and I want to encourage this to our staff.
Leadership is the process of influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals.
I In this course I learned that many people believed leadership comes from the hard knocks of life and personal struggle. However, I now understand that leadership is actually a combination of nature and nurture. Some people may have natural leadership traits, but skills can also be developed through experiences, learning, and guidance.
