{"id":24978,"date":"2012-12-18t20:06:36","date_gmt":"2012-12-19t01:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=24978"},"modified":"2016-04-19t11:14:01","modified_gmt":"2016-04-19t15:14:01","slug":"leadership-is-overrated-its-good-management-that-makes-successful-firms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2012\/12\/18\/leadership-is-overrated-its-good-management-that-makes-successful-firms\/","title":{"rendered":"leadership is overrated: it’s good management that makes successful firms"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a0<\/address>\n

plus: a dozen deep thoughts on leadership vs. management in accounting firms.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

by marc rosenberg, cpa
\nauthor of \u201ccpa firm management and governance”
\n<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

while the differentiation of management from governance is really an issue of professional jargon, a discussion of \u201cmanagement vs. leadership\u201d is a more substantive matter.\u00a0 during my 30-plus year career in the business world, i have read many books and articles and heard many speeches on these two subjects that are near and dear to my heart.<\/p>\n

\"marc<\/a><\/address>\n

more on cpa firm management and leadership:\u00a0 <\/strong>40 great ways to improve firm profitability<\/a>\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0 four management metrics that fool even the best-run firms<\/a>\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0 19 ways to improve accounting firm profitability<\/a> \u2022\u00a0<\/strong>de-bunking the myth about niche marketing for tax and accounting firms<\/a> \u2022 <\/strong>practice development is no longer an optional activity<\/a> \u2022 10 good ways the achieve partner accountability<\/a> \u2022 pick your partners right to begin with<\/a> \u2022 the first nine questions your partner team needs to embrace for optimal profitability<\/a> \u2022 profitability and the value of strategic thinking<\/a> \u2022 the five essential building blocks for creating a strong accounting firm<\/a> \u2022 the seven signs of great leadership in a cpa firm<\/a> \u2022 compensation issues for the new managing partner<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

when reading on management and leadership, it seems we are being told that the two traits are almost mutually exclusive, like black and white.\u00a0 yes, it\u2019s true that many inspiring, innovative leaders are lousy managers because they don\u2019t have the focus and discipline required to manage.\u00a0 and some managers make terrible leaders because either they lack the necessary interpersonal skills or over-rely on titles, authority and intimidation to get people to follow.<\/p>\n

but in every walk of life, there are a lot of managers who are also <\/em>good leaders and vice versa.\u00a0 i have had the good fortune to work with many of them.\u00a0 it can<\/em> be done.<\/p>\n

\"//www.g005e.com/store/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/\"<\/a>
look inside<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

many cpa firm partners confuse charisma<\/em> with leadership.\u00a0 <\/em>jim collins, in his book good to great<\/span><\/a>,<\/em> clarified this nicely: \u201cgo<\/span>od-to-great leaders\u2026 are often self-effacing, quiet, reserved, even shy, a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.\u00a0 they act with quiet, calm determination, relying principally on inspired standards, not inspiring charisma, to motivate.”<\/p>\n

darwin smith, former ceo of kimberly-clark said: \u201ci never stopped trying to become qualified for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

here is a very short list of my favorite definitions of management and leadership.<\/strong><\/p>\n

management’s job is to:<\/strong><\/p>\n