How to Prepare for a Manager Interview vs. Leader Interview

There was a study completed by Warren Bennis, 1989, which may give us some insight we can use to determine whether you are a manager or a leader. Maybe you are both, maybe not. In either case, you must prepare for one or both of these to address the interview; completely. He felt there were 12 distinctions between the two groups.  I hope these provoke your thinking about  the "you" that you are selling in the interview. Here they are:

• Managers administer, leaders innovate,
• Managers ask how and when, leaders ask how and why,
• Mangers focus on systems, leaders focus on people,
• Managers do things right, Leaders do the right things,
• Managers maintain, leaders develop,
• Managers rely on control, leaders inspire trust,
• Managers perspective is short term, leaders perspective is long term
• Managers accept the status quo, leaders challenge the status quo,
• Managers focus on the bottom line, leaders have an eye on the horizon,
• Managers imitate, leaders originate,
• Managers emulate the classic soldier, leaders are their own people

Another study by Paul Birch, 1999, revealed that an effective leader creates and sustains competitive advantage though attainment of cost leadership, revenue leadership, time leadership and market value leadership.  A leader is characterized by the fact they achieve!

Then you have Lee Iacocca, who felt that leadership was a combination of curiosity, creative, communication, character, courage, conviction, charisma, competent, crisis and common sense.

When you interview, think about these issues and where you fit. Then, prepare as stated in Part I of the interview preparation and you might be ready to begin your interview journey.