Understanding Your Strengths as a Manager and Leader

On January 19, 2016, the Management and Leadership Development Program hosted Gama Perruci, Dean of the McDonough Leadership Center at Marietta College. Dr. Perruci talked to participants about different personality strengths and where each one fit on the management and leadership spectrum. He stressed the importance that all personality strengths are valuable at some point, and that the best teams have a combination. Great managers and leaders will align their strengths with the needs of the organization, so every team member can be the most effective version of themselves. 

A manager is a person responsible for planning and directing the work of a group of individuals, monitoring their work, and taking corrective action when necessary, while a leader is a person who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision, and the skills to make it happen.  Dr. Perruci's message noted that leadership and management are not exclusive roles, but rather fluid depending on the context of the situation. MLDP’s logo is derived from this very idea, "Do the right thing (leadership), and do it right (management).”

Submitted by Mary Sieredzinski ’17, MLDP Student Program Assistant